Chris Bell

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Chris Bell was born and brought up in Northumberland, England. During his time studying at Manchester Collage of Art and Design he found that what he enjoyed most was extramural time in the sculpture studio. After a long and varied working career he moved to rural France in 2010, and it was only then that he found the time and space to continue his love of sculpture in the form of stone carving.

 

Stone

Chris is largely self-taught and his early work was figurative, but he gradually refined and simplified his forms with emphasis on the female figure. His approach to the piece is intuitive, often depending on the properties of the stone he is carving.

His passion for travel has led him to work in various countries including India, Italy, Portugal and France using the local stone he found there. His home and studio is in Voisey, in north eastern France.

 

 

Metal

In 2015 Chris discovered arc-welding and has been creating sculptures from recycled and new mild steel.

 

Ceramics

During the winter of 2016 Chris started using clay for the first time as a medium for his work. This work developed in to his “castle-man” series of ceramic heads which are smoke fired and waxed.

 

Wood

Chris used to make green oak timber building so has a love for the material. He has made several pieces in both natural and burnt oak (Shou Sugi Ban). He is now experimenting combining oak, metal and stone.  

 

His home and studio is a small village in north eastern France.

 

 

 

Relevant Education and work:

 

Manchester College of Art and Design, UK 1967 - 1970

 

Founder of an Arts Centre, Chester, UK 1975 - 1979

 

Art and Photo Gallery owner, Brighton, UK. 1982- 1984

 

Print and Framing Company 1988- 1991

 

Design and publishing studio 1991 - 1999

 

Sculptor in stone, wood and metal from 2010 to present

 

Chris has had exhibitions in England, France, Portugal and India