Biography

CHRIS HARRISON

Contemporary abstract artist - painter, collagist and photographer.

STORY

Chris was born and continues to live in coastal north Norfolk. His art education began with A level art at Boston Grammar School, followed by the foundation course at Jacob Kramer College of Art & Design in Leeds. He went on to obtain a BA in Art & History of Art from Reading University and completed a Postgraduate Art Teachers Certificate at the Institute of Education, University of London.

Starting out as a teacher, Chris taught art, art history, and photography until 1985 when he began painting full-time. In 1988, he and his wife Debby founded Bircham Gallery in North Norfolk and were owners until 2023, showcasing both his own work and that of many other artists. Since 2023 he has been able to devote time to studio practice again. Chris became a Christian at age 18, and hopes that his work reflects the miraculous nature of everything around us.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Chris’ photography is an enquiry into the interplay of natural processes with human-made surfaces. This is where his current work found its direction - capturing the fleeting abstract beauty created by weathering and decay over time. His photographs—often shot in industrial and coastal environments—highlight histories of activity pursued and abandoned. He uses digital processes and enhancements to convey the intensity of moments of perception. 

“My photographs are a way of investigating the nature of things, discovering the miraculous that lies everywhere within the ordinary”.

PAINTING & COLLAGE His abstract paintings and collages further explore these themes, translating the unplanned and transient into contemplative form.

Chris tends to work in series, following through themes. This helps the flow of work from one piece into another. Recent series have been titled “Ordinary Icons”, “Defragmentations”, “Edge of Knowing” and “Langona” (meaning longing). Studio practice varies very much from one day to another, depending on what needs doing – generating new ideas, perhaps by being out with the camera or working in sketchbooks; pushing ideas towards something resolved; covering the studio surfaces with numerous pieces being worked on together, finalising and fixing collages, reviewing, completing, framing, photographing, cataloguing, preparing for exhibitions etc. Though it may seem organised, the process is mostly intuitive. He usually works to music, finding this helps him enter a “flow” state more readily.

“Starting a new painting is always like setting out into unknown territory – leaning on years of experience but not knowing a thing! I like to use undeciphered signs suggesting there is meaning I can’t see yet. Where to stop? Never an easy one – when and if the painting has acquired what I can only call an iconic value”.

PERMANENCE

All Chris’s work is produced using artist quality materials and acid free conservation grade papers and framing materials. Please note no artwork should be exhibited in direct sunlight as fading will occur.