Chris Newson – Chinese Brush Painting in the Community

brush drawings

March 15  – July 10 2020

This exhibition was due to close on May 15 but was extended until the lifting of coronavirus restrictions made it possible to change shows.

Chris Newson, is a teacher and practitioner in Chinese brush painting based in Settle. This exhibition featured her own work and showed how she  teaches this ancient and fascinating art to a variety of different local groups.

Chris’s interest in Chinese brush painting developed following her retirement from full-time work in 2008. She has learned from Chinese masters over one or two days each month for ten years, and is now a member of both the Yorkshire and the national Chinese Brush Painting societies, though such is that nature of the art that she is still technically a beginner.

Chris loves the amazing selection of natural hair brushes, the variety of papers and the Chinese watercolours with seven different reds. She grinds her own ink on a stone slate. She paints on all sorts of surfaces, including lamp shades, silk fans and now pressed cork!

Chris Newson last exhibited at the Gallery on the Green in 2013, in the snow, on her 60th birthday. Since then she has begun to exhibit in other places such as Ilkley Clarke Foley, ManyHands in Silsden, Craven Arts Studio, Skipton Art Trail and recently Le Caveau and Q Workery in Skipton.

She teaches a number of local art groups including Abbeyfield Supported Living, WI groups across Yorkshire, U3A in Craven and Barnsley, Project 6 in Keighley, hen parties, family groups and community interest companies in Silsden and Settle Community Hub. She leads some free classes and has developed publications for charity such as Cancer Support Centre.

Chris has worked in Settle for the Community and Business Hub, teaching at the Quaker Meeting House, the Hub and Victoria Hall Art Days.

She has a studio at home, overlooking fields and teaches talented and beginner pupils.

Chris can be contacted on chrisnewsn@aol.com.

She also has a facebook page chrisnewsonchinnesestylepainting.