Christopher Aggs RBA

Statement

Aggs see himself as a realist painter and prefers to work directly from observation. Aggs is  endlessly fascinated by the task of translating what I see into paint and considers that the world in front of his easel contains more wonderful variety than anything he could ever dream up himself. Aggs is mostly at home working outdoors but has a studio in West Sussex with printmaking facilities where he also undertakes a variety of work to commission. Ideas for his paintings present themselves constantly in the landscape, among objects in the studio and recently while observing musicians absorbed in the activity of music making.

Methodology

Aggs prefers to work from direct observation and his paintings nearly always beginning with a series of drawings as a means of getting acquainted with the subject rather than as a means of fixing its contours. Aggs usually works in oil paint on board, and sometimes on canvas. Frequently the work will be carried out plein-air although he does make on-the-spot sketches if the weather is variable or time presses. Aggs prefers to complete larger more considered works on site rather than in the studio. This always means changing and re-working the painting to fit current conditions and often means repeated visits over many months, sometimes even returning to the same spot at the same season over several years. Like most figurative artists, for the past 150 years, Aggs is affected by photography and does use photographic references when he cannot rely on his own observation; for instance when things are happening too fast to draw! However it is important to him to re-invent the photographic image through the medium of oil paint rather than try to make a copy.

Bio

1951 Born in Horsham, West Sussex.

1970-3 Read English Literature at University of Oxford and began drawing lessons at The Ruskin School, Oxford.

1974 Studied Painting and Printmaking at City & Guilds of London Art School and continued at the Royal Academy Schools graduating in 1980.

1983 Married artist and illustrator Patrice (Osborne) Aggs.

Established practice as Artist and taught Drawing, Painting and Printmaking at the City & Guilds of London Art School, Northbrook College, Worthing and University of Chichester Dept of Fine Art.

2012 Retired from teaching to concentrate on my own work.

2013 Elected member of Royal Society of British Artists.