School of Landscape Painting - Artsist Development Programme 2020/21

Christopher Baker has wide experience of both North American and European traditions of landscape painting. He has travelled extensively to study and paint – as far as the High Arctic and Antarctic Peninsular, and his own locale as in ‘64 Days’ . From this primary research he has created large groups of thematic works for exhibitions at the Royal Academy, London; Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada; and Pallant House, Chichester. He has a belief in a strong and intimate connection with nature and a passion that art, at its best, is one of the supreme manifestations of mankind’s ability to experience that which is both beyond and within. With this unique vision and valuable experience he is able to help artists structure and provide an individual developmental programme in the School of Landscape Painting – through the ADP. “Throughout a long career his love of subject has been matched by a relentless determination to discover a consistent quality of newness in his understanding of the natural environment. He is not a ‘repeatist’ artist; indeed, there is a skill and freshness in the way he handles his subjects which is truly mesmeric. The paintings always work on two levels. They have a strong narrative and at the same time a powerful aesthetic appeal. It is a measure of his work that you do not need to look for clever phrases to respond to it. He articulates his vision so precisely; his method of doing so is at one with his love of subject and profound spiritual engagement. His audience sense that his pictures are right. Here is honesty and truth. They have all stood on a mountaintop or rocky headland with wind and spray in their face reveling in the joy of existence.” Professor David Carpanini. August 2016. 12 – Professor David Carpanini Christopher Baker B.A (Hons.) Fine Art, Commendation in the history of art, Post Graduate studies Exeter University. Whilst still a student he was awarded The David Murray landscape Scholarship by the Royal Academy of Arts Tutor Profile