I show the symbolic images in my paintings as a complement to the imagery evoked in my poems. Ideas for the symbolism in my art derive from my poetry. I start a painting with a combination of several images from a poem. Discovery and suggestion from my imagination emerge during the painting process and are a supplement to the poetry. The result has the intrinsic value of both poem and painting.

Name: Christopher English
Contact details: Via my web site.
Address:
Contact Christopher
Christopher English's Symbolist Paintings and Poetry Page

I was born in 1950 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
My parents had six children, of which I am the second eldest. After a few years living abroad my family moved every few years to different towns within the south and
midlands of England. During my education I attended two boarding schools.
I left school in 1968 and went to train as a drawing office tracer in Leeds. I then went to
live in Harrogate again in 1970. I started work at that same time for a company of chemical
combustion engineers. I started writing poems and painting in oil colours in my spare time.
To follow my interest in painting I went to art school in the evenings. I had a lot of
encouragement from various poetry events, workshops, friends etc,
I was made redundant from work in 1985 and decided that there was no future for me in
drawing office work. I wanted to get a degree in fine art. I did a foundation course in art
at Harrogate Art College. I then went on to do a Fine Art Painting degree at Loughborough University, where I graduated in 1994. Besides exhibiting my paintings at various exhibitions, I have self published a book of my poems and paintings, which I up date. The book title is: ‘A King Rose to build a Palace.’ and is available from myself upon request.