Christine Brunnock

christinebrunnock.co.uk @christinebrunnockart

My roots are in St Ives, Cornwall. One side of my family were born and bred here. It is where I grew up, and where I still reside today.

I was good at art as a child - I would draw my family, my pets, my surroundings, and I used my imagination a lot. The positive responses I received encouraged me to keep going. My art teacher seemed to enjoy my work and gave me exercises to draw from life and paint with my emotions. It was an excellent way to express myself fully, especially as a child, when words were hard to find.

Art is a universal language, and being able to communicate through visual creations is incredible. It is important for me to express myself through creativity, as the process is therapeutic. Constant practice and life experiences have enriched my work, pushed my boundaries, and have moved me more towards semi-abstraction.

When inspiration strikes, I paint, even if it is late in the evening. I can feel physically tired after covering large canvases, sometimes destroying what I have spent time painting to take it in another, more exciting direction.

A good painting is one that creates a connection, a genuine feeling that resonates with the viewer, maybe leaving them pondering, or enticing them to take time to digest and interpret.

I am surrounded by beauty, so it is never difficult to choose my subject. I am constantly looking at shapes, movement, and colour, finding something that really catches my eye when exploring the Cornish coast - it has that deep family history and connection. The Cornish coast is rugged and dangerous, yet breathtakingly beautiful. It is the perfect place to channel every emotion.

There is an abundance of visual arts and culture in St Ives, Cornwall. St Ives is famous for its renowned art colony dating back to the 1880s. We have Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Museum, the Bernard Leach Pottery and Museum, the St Ives School of Painting, galleries, societies, workshops, and more. Something for everyone.

I am working towards a couple of exhibitions at the moment; one in July at the historical St Ives Arts Club and another at ING, Moorgate, London in November.

The rewards of the vocation are many; experiencing inner peace when creating, turning negative emotion into something dynamic and beautiful, keeping me balanced with a sense of purpose.