This award will significantly advance my artistic practice, which focuses on evocative depictions of broken and abandoned toys, particularly dolls, as metaphors for memory, loss, and emotional resilience. My work explores themes of childhood, trauma, and transformation, often resonating deeply with individuals who have experienced trauma and isolation alongside many other nuanced difficulties in growing up within any marginalised class or group.
It would allow me to invest in several crucial areas to expand both the reach and depth of my practice. Firstly, I intend to develop a new body of mixed-media work incorporating clay, printmaking, and large-scale drawing and painting. This will require dedicated studio time, as well as access to specialist equipment and materials, including a kiln, etching press, and archival papers and canvas.
Secondly, the funding will support professional development opportunities. I plan to extend my technical skills by participating in workshops on experimental printmaking and also on contemporary ceramics, allowing me to explore new ways of expressing the main message of my work and perhaps helping to facilitate valuable peer exchange and mentorship.
Additionally, I aim to stage a solo exhibition that showcases this new body of work. The bursary will help cover venue hire, installation costs, promotional materials, and documentation. I will also host a series of public events, including an artist talk and a workshop on storytelling through damaged objects, aimed at engaging communities affected by loss or disconnection.
This funding would support a pivotal moment in my artistic development. It would provide the resources, time, and visibility needed to refine my voice, deepen my engagement with audiences, and move my practice toward greater sustainability and impact. This will position my work for future opportunities such as residencies, collaborations, and sales.
The nature of my practice aligns very much with organisations like Dover Smart Project as well as the work of Creative Darlington, both of which champion socially engaged and emotionally impactful art.
Dover Smart Project’s commitment to using creativity to inspire, connect, and support communities, particularly through their work with children and those facing hardship, echoes my values and experiences of difficulty in childhood and as a young person navigating the world without adequate support.
Similarly, Creative Darlington’s investment in nurturing local artists and bringing meaningful, thought-provoking work into public view reflects my intention to make art that is both personal and widely accessible.
By exhibiting my work, leading workshops, and developing inclusive public programming, I hope to contribute to a wider cultural dialogue and help foster understanding, connection, and healing through the arts.
I see my practice not only as a personal pursuit but as a means of elevating the visibility of introspective, community-rooted art and demonstrating its power to engage, move, and inspire diverse audiences.
My practice is rooted in the exploration of memory, vulnerability, and emotional complexity. I work across the disciplines of painting, drawing, printmaking, and clay sculpture, with a recurring focus on broken, discarded, or abandoned toys, particularly dolls, as potent symbols of lost innocence, resilience, and the enduring silent witnesses to the everyday events that are often the catalyst for trauma felt in later years. These objects serve as a vehicle by which I examine the emotional landscapes of childhood trauma, and what it takes to heal and repair and thrive. My work often resonates with audiences who have experienced hardship or disconnection, offering them a space for reflection and empathy. It also appeals to those drawn to the uncanny, the nostalgic, and the beautifully unsettling. I am currently preparing for a joint exhibition titled Threads of Expression, which will take place in Chester City Centre in July. This exhibition brings together two distinct yet complementary practices that explore themes of identity, memory, and emotional texture. My contribution will include mixed-media works, painting and printmaking that evoke a sense of fragility and endurance. Threads of Expression will also feature artist talks and interactive elements to engage the public more directly, inviting them to reflect on their own stories through the lens of emotionally charged objects. The exhibition provides an opportunity not only to share new work with a wider audience but to continue my ongoing dialogue with communities who find connection and meaning in these quieter, more introspective narratives. My practice aims to seek to contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate culture, that values complexity, diversity and vulnerability as a strength.
I am currently involved with the organisation and creation of an artist-led collective, dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive creative community. The mission will be to create meaningful opportunities for people through events, workshops, and exhibitions that bring together professional artists, students, and hobbyists in a spirit of mutual support and shared learning.
In addition to supporting individual growth, our collective will seek to build a stronger local arts presence by collaborating with schools, libraries, and community venues. Although it is still in the planning phase, we aim to encourage cultural participation and ensure that creativity remains a visible and vital part of community life, regardless of background or experience, so that everyone can feel inspired and empowered.
My work has been featured in the following publications:
2016 – Figurative Art Today – Columbia Threadneedle Exhibition Catalogue, Mall Galleries, London
2014 – Artists and Illustrators Magazine feature of my painting ‘Jacqueline in the Sunroom’ – July edition
2014 – SAA Desk Diary – a feature of my winning entry ‘Les’
2010 – Artists and Illustrators Magazine features my painting ‘Saturday’ – October edition
I am currently undertaking an artist residency at the University of Chester as part of the national AA2A (Artists Access to Art Colleges) scheme. This residency has provided me with invaluable access to specialist facilities, equipment, and academic resources, allowing me to significantly expand my skills, knowledge, and creative horizons.
Working within a university environment has offered not only technical development but also the opportunity to engage with the students, staff, and fellow artists. This exchange of ideas has enriched my practice and encouraged new approaches to both process and subject matter.
During the residency, I have begun developing a new body of work that deepens my exploration into themes that address memory, emotional damage, and healing. Being part of the AA2A scheme has also reaffirmed my commitment to education and creative exchange.
Through informal mentoring and studio conversations, I’ve been able to share insights with other emerging artists, contributing to a supportive and dynamic learning environment while continuing to evolve my own practice in meaningful ways.
Email: chrisgallart100@gmail.com
Address: 27 Buckingham Avenue, Vicars Cross, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 5JR, GB
Local Authority: Cheshire West and Chester Council
