About

I'm a painter with a background as a professional figurative illustrator of books. Character, figures in movement, living history and ancient landscapes are my central subjects of interest.  The vibrant traditional music scene with which I've long been involved, brings many of these elements together, along with the challenge of describing visually, the sounds of the music.  Pub music and country dance sessions are an aural and visual feast, events where virtuoso and amateur musicians gather to play medleys of English polkas, strange airs and old-timey waltzes, performed- in no particular order - by an exuberant mix of acoustic instruments, strings, buttons and brass. Unpredictable mixes of sound - say cello with banjo, fiddle and sweet harmonica - will result in dazzling 'lift-off' moments.

In 2016 I was approached by UWE Bristol to make a recollection of friend and fellow-singer Angela Carter for the major RWA exhibition 'Strange Worlds: the Vision of Angela Carter'.  It was Angela and her husband Paul who through the 1960s in Bristol, introduced me to this incredible music.  My remembered images appear in the exhibition and catalogue, and on the UWE/RWA website www.getangelacarter.com (folk music).

Watercolour, overlaid in washes for depth and luminosity, is a method I developed as an illustrator.  It's a technique I've adapted for oils and acrylic paint.  All the paintings shown are now reproduced as signed, limited edition giclee prints on archival quality paper.

Biography

Chris studied graphic design at the RWA in Bristol in the 1960s before specializing in book illustration.  Graduating from UWE Bristol (BA Hons Illustration) in 1975 she embarked on a 30-year career as a freelance figurative illustrator in international publishing.  Professional commissions for illustrated books ranged in subject from classic literature, myths and legends to biography and - more recently - historical reconstruction illustrations involving hands-on archaeology with projects undertaken through Bristol City Museum, Cadw and English Heritage.

As a visiting lecturer at The University of the West of England from 1978 until 2010, Chris devised and led programmes of direct painting and fine-art study for Illustration degree students.  Chris regularly exhibits her paintings and prints at venues in Bristol and the south-west.  She demonstrates her historical reconstruction illustration work in schools and at Archaeology Festivals.

Contact

Please contact Chris Molan for further information about her paintings, illustrations and prints.

Most works are for sale. Contact Chris Molan for further details-

email: chris_molan@hotmail.com

tel: 0117 9426310  /  07748747537