Chris Rose specialises in paintings of wildlife, particularly birds, in their habitats. Working mainly in oils and acrylics his paintings are inspired by the colours and patterns found in natural landscapes. Although executed in a realistic style his paintings are often underpinned by abstract shapes. He is frequently drawn to the small and intimate corners of the landscape that are often overlooked by the casual observer. He has a particular interest in depicting water, exploring the myriad effects of translucence and reflectivity.
He works mainly in acrylics plein air and these field paintings both represent finished works in themselves and constitute his main reference material for larger, studio-based paintings.
Publications His work appears in many books, and he has been the subject of numerous magazine articles. He is also a contributor of articles to the Artist magazine. A book of his paintings, In a Natural Light (Langford Press 2005) was chosen as the Guardian newspaper’s ‘Natural History Book of the Year’. He has been the sole illustrator for many books including Robins and Chats (Bloomsbury 2015), Swallows and Martins (Helm 1989) and Grebes of the World (Coleman 2003). He has had work in many other publications including the popular RSPB/AA Birds of Britain and Europe and the seminal, 16 volume work Handbook to the Birds of the World (Lynx Edicions 1992 – 2013).
Awards He has won several awards including the Arts Club Award, British Birds journal’s Bird Illustrator of the Year and was twice winner of Birdwatch magazine’s Wildlife Artist of the Year. In 2015 he won the Wildlife Trusts Undersea Art Award and appeared on the BBC’s Countryfile programme drawing underwater whilst scuba-diving.
He has been a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) for over 35 years. He has served as secretary and is currently treasurer of the SWLA, has served on the board of governors of the Federation of British Artists (FBA) and is currently a member of the Finance and Budget Committee of the FBA. He lives in the Cairngorm National Park in the Scottish Highlands.
