Allotment Art

CHRISTOPHER CYPRUS

Born April 1971, Gorton, Manchester. In 1978 after briefly living in Stockport I moved to Mossley, Ashton-u-Lyne, a small town built around the old cotton mills and the River Tame. I attended Mossley Hollins High School, leaving in 1987 with only 4 G.C.S.E’s and an O’level at grade A+ in Art.

I then worked for the family business as a Carpet Fitter until 1991, going on to become self employed as a builder and part time Musician, working the Northern Clubs and occasionally touring Germany.

Following a work related injury in August 1998; I took up painting as a hobby and in 1999 hired a stand at the Manchester Art Show at G.Mex where I sold all my exhibited paintings. This gave me the confidence to pursue my talents as a professional Painter. In 2001 I was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer which reoccurred in 2003. After having Radio therapy I finally got the all clear in 2004. The illness helped me to prioritise the importance things in life, and highlighted the things that are usually taken for granted. This strengthened my artistic vision and fuelled the passion to succeed as an artist.

Most of my paintings are worked on canvas using Acrylics. I enjoy working with this medium because it allows me to work at a speed that suits my style of painting. I also work in Oils, but Oil painting can sometimes be too labourious as the excitement of the early stages of creation can be lost (a bit like watching paint dry) but like the allotment I am also learning about 'Patience'.