ABOUT CHARLES
Charles has always felt himself the outsider, following his own path and ignoring current popular trends. He quotes his influential heroes, William Blake, Wifredo Lam, Matta, but his way is unique.
He studied at the Byam Shaw, Camberwell and the Central School of Art in London, specialising in etching, going on to teach at the Central school and other art schools in the UK before joining Editions Alecto as MD. of the etching studio, working with many of their commissioned artists, in particular, Patrick Procktor who introduced him to watercolour in Venice.
In 1982 he left London and a career of an established masterprinter behind, to live in Kent and find his way as an artist in his own right.
He often travelled to France and Italy painting landscapes, having exhibitions there and making a living from commissions painting Chateaux for a decade.
Travels to far flung places with pen and watercolour became a way of life, especially in India which he considers a second home. A radical change came about when he first visited the Paleolithic Caves in southwest France which led to making a vast series of ‘animist’ images in diverse media culminating in the vast giant chalk cut Hill Figure of the Folkestone White Horse on the escarpment above the Channel Tunnel. His largest and most well known art work to date.
Chasing Giants and Hill Figures has become a preoccupation, with several projects waiting their time between concept and reality. His two giant figures known as Gog and Magog on Plymouth Hoe have been made in full scale replicas and are now due to appear in 2021.
His artwork has taken unusual directions, working with Spike Milligan on his ‘Frankenstein according to Spike Milligan’ and ‘A musical interlude with Mr. Edward Lear ‘.
Images from the Bhagavad Gita,’ Khajuraho-The Temples of Love’, St John’s Book of Revelation and ‘The Book of Dreams’ have all evolved into paintings and murals, and become titles of exhibitions.
He has produced art work for the rock bands, ELP, Led Zeppelin and Dave Davies of the Kinks. He was the artist recorder for the gathering of the world’s religious leaders at Windsor Castle in 2009 to discuss how to save the planet!
His main focus now is creating paintings from his personal vision. Imagination, original ideas and superb skill are the key to his work. Some of his paintings are complex and deep, but most rewarding to study. It is rare to come across the work of an artist with such original and visionary ideas. His extraordinary work will endure the passing fashions.
Welcome to his world!
CHARLES NEWINGTON
ARTIST
Charles has always followed his own path, ignoring current popular trends. He quotes his influential heroes, William Blake, Wifredo Lam, Matta, but his direction is uniquely his own.
He studied at the Byam Shaw, Camberwell and the Central School of Art in London, specialising in etching, going on to teach at the Central school and other art schools in the UK before joining Editions Alecto as MD. of the etching studio, working with many of their commissioned artists, in particular, Patrick Procktor who introduced him to watercolour in Venice.
In 1982 he left London and a career of an established masterprinter behind, to live in Kent and find his way as an artist in his own right.
He often travelled to France and Italy painting landscapes, having exhibitions there and making a living from commissions painting Chateaux for a decade.
Travels to far flung places with pen and watercolour became a way of life, especially in India which he considers a second home. A radical change came about when he first visited the Palaeolithic Caves in southwest France which led to making a vast series of ‘animist’ images with numerous exhibitions in diverse media culminating in the vast giant chalk cut Hill Figure of the Folkestone White Horse on the escarpment above the Channel Tunnel. His largest and most well known artwork to date.
Chasing Giants and Hill Figures has become a preoccupation, with several projects waiting their time between concept and reality. His two giant figures known as Gog and Magog on Plymouth Hoe have been made in full scale replicas and are now due to appear in 2021.
His work has taken unusual directions, working with Spike Milligan on his ‘Frankenstein according to Spike Milligan’, and ‘A musical interlude with Mr. Edward Lear ‘. Producing artwork for the rock bands, ELP, Led Zeppelin and Dave Davies of the Kinks. Exhibiting backstage at the Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge London show. As the artist recorder for the gathering of the world’s religious leaders at Windsor Castle in 2009 to discuss how to save the planet.
Images for the “Beasts”, the Bhagavad Gita, Khajuraho, ‘The Temples of Love’, St John’s Book of Revelation, Metamorphs, the Sea Odyssey and ‘The Book of Dreams’ series have all evolved into paintings, prints and murals and became the titles of exhibitions.
His focus now is an ongoing series of works inspired by his first visit to Cuba.
Imagination, original ideas and superb skill are the key to his work. Some of his paintings are complex and deep, but most rewarding to study. It is rare to come across the work of an artist with such original and visionary ideas. His extraordinary work will endure the passing fashions.
Welcome to his world.