Christine Forbes

My teaching methods are loosely based on what I have learnt from Chinese ink drawing as a working practice. I am a firm believer that anyone can learn to draw and paint. Practice is definitely the key word!

Students will have the opportunity to discover themselves within their work, build on skills and ideas they already have and gain greater confidence through practical demonstrations and advice.

The techniques and processes I use in my teaching are the same as those that I use for my own working practice. These are centred around the many different ways that brushes, washes and surfaces can be used to express something unique and personal. I encourage my students to extend themselves beyond their comfort zone and try new working methods. These then may be used as a bedrock for their future studio work.

There are several European artists who continue to inspire me, both visually and critically including Francis Bacon and Egon Schiele. My continued and most important influences however reside in Chinese and Japanese ink drawings, their related philosophies and poetry. Making work is for me all about process, a constant quest for a contemplative mental state through the activity of working, (a Zen journey) and is a pursuit of the purely metaphysical.

My work is exhibited regularly locally and in London. I now have a working space at Open Studios, 168 Kings Road Arches, (Brighton beach), where I work 3 days a week. My new work will be on view there from 1st December.

ALAM (Hons), SIAD, BA (Hons).

I've had over 8 years experience including: HMP Ford, children from the National Association of Gifted Children and adult education (both Northbrook College, Worthing, and privately.) I trained privately as a public speaker. I am a regular tutor at West Dean and will shortly be teaching at the Open Studios, Brighton.

My work is held in private collections.