I have recently become a full time self-employed freelance Artist/ Facilitator after many years of teaching art part time in a local primary school and working as a Professional Artist.
My family and I moved into our parents’ cottage and small holding about 8 years ago as the third-generation custodians, giving us the amazing opportunity of converting the cottage, plus in time, the old pig sties and stable outbuildings into my studio. I was fortunate to be able to plan the whole internal studio layout with the help of my husband, which is set in an idyllic rural village in South Yorkshire.
We are both keen gardeners which has greatly influenced my work especially during Covid19 and painting ‘En Plein Air’ in the garden has given me the scope to run Workshops for students inside the studio and in the garden. It has also offered me a refuge to deal with my mental health during difficult times. I love experimenting with texture using collage and vibrant colours in nature on canvas and am constantly mesmerised by the different effects light has on my landscapes.
The studio is Southeast facing and has ample light flowing in from large patio doors and a picture window, sometimes it can get a little too hot in summer but its easily rectified with a blind. One of the most important facilities is the recycled metal sink from inside the cottage as I paint large acrylic canvasses with collage and am quite messy, along with my trusty kettle for a brew.
The studio gives me ample space to teach, display my work, and produce large scale pieces, for instance my recent mural commission from Heritage Doncaster celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Miners Strike and Championing Change initiative, currently on show at the Fox Gallery Mining Exhibition in Mexborough.
The garden and my cat, Burrito, often follow me inside with my exotic cacti on the windowsill which often accidently get the better of me! The piece of furniture I couldn’t be without is a large, sturdy metal drawer cabinet once used for tools which was donated to my husband by a close friend. I managed to persuade him it was too big for his shed, and he already had ample storage thus sending it my direction! It is great for storing paper, sketch books, mounts, artwork and an array of equipment.
Over the past few years, I have been fortunate to feature many of my works in the D31 Gallery in Doncaster and in the Doncaster Art Fair – Art as a Response to Mental Health Exhibition 2022, 2023, 2024 online and at the Women Of the World (WOW) Festival Art Trail 2024 in Rotherham town centre.
I am extremely lucky to live in such a beautiful setting with scenic views and to have a very supportive and understanding family along with the support of my students who are all great friends forever.
About the Artist:
Chris Teal – https://community.saa.co.uk/artists/chris-teal-154033/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063181993163