Nature Couture

N AT U R E COUTURE

CHRISTIAN MOORE 27 April – 28 May 2022

DOUBTFIRE contemporary art edinburgh

front cover The escape, 30 x 40cm this page Pause for thought, 25 x 35cm

N AT U R E COUTURE

Doubtfire gallery presents the first solo exhibition of a stunning collection of art by a talented young designer, illustrator and artist.

Christian Moore was born in 1981 on the Wirral in Northwest England, which is also where he grew up. After studying art at school and business at Liverpool University, the strength of his portfolio earned him a position on the roster of a leading illustration agent in London, where he worked for a decade. During that time, he had the privilege of producing creative work for many notable fashion brands and magazines, such as Chanel, Tatler, Hugo Boss, Vogue and many more.

Christian made the decision to leave London and move to Edinburgh in 2019, and then Perthshire in 2021 to raise his family. e change of lifestyle and his immersion in the beauty of the nature around him inspired him to experiment with different mediums. is allowed him to further develop his distinctive style and also to build up a collection of beautifully presented art for exhibition.

As with his earlier illustrative work, his canvas pieces remain true to his overall 'less is more' approach. ey embody his sense of style and celebrate both beauty and imperfection.

“When we visited Christian in his studio near Dunkeld, it was clear that he had produced a mature and sophisticated body of original art, both in technique and presentation. We felt that the strength of the work presented an opportunity to give this collection a focussed showing in Edinburgh.” Gallery directors, Jane and David Frame. is exhibition is a selection of pieces that represent Christian’s transition over a five year period, from working as a commercial fashion illustrator to creating his own distinctive personal art. e focus moves from couture into abstract figure studies, and from there it flows into his exploration of incorporating metals and organic materials, as well as developing rich backgrounds through texture and depth of paint.

Meet the artist Christian will be in the gallery on Saturday 30 April between 2pm and 4pm.

Works are for sale on receipt of this invitation. All images are representative only for marketing purposes.

Exhibition content, with prices and dimensions of work, can be viewed at www.doubtfiregallery.com.

“...the change of surroundings and focus gave me the breathing space to further develop my art into a cohesive collection...”

The three of us, 50 x 70cm

My Process “I’m experimenting all of the time so describing my process as a singular thing is difficult . . .”

With his latest work, the first step for Christian in creating each painting is applying and removing layer upon layer of paint on the canvas. is is a laborious process that continues until a smooth finish is achieved (as the canvas /hessian grain becomes less visible). is process gives the painting real depth and colour.

Even a painting that may look almost white when finished has many layers of colour underneath. Texture is continually added to the foreground often using a mixture of either sand, sawdust or even used coffee grounds. e primary subject is sketched onto the background and then sculpted in bronze or another metal directly on the canvas using a type of cold casting. e 'cold cast' is made in the studio using metal powder and a type of resin. Once cured, the metal is aged to suit the composition before sealing and protecting the work.

Moonlight dip, 25 x 35cm

Verdant heart, 20 x 29cm

above The quiet type, 30 x 40cm

right Autumn calling, 40 x 50cm

clockwise from top left Danu, 25 x 35cm Serenity, 25 x 35cm The cicada, 25 x 35cm Cocktail hour, 25 x 35cm

Space to breathe, 62 x 75cm

Osprey, 30 x 40cm

DOUBTFIRE contemporary art 28 North West Circus Place, Edinburgh EH3 6TP Tel 07902 307147 email art@doubtfiregallery.com www.doubtfiregallery.com Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday 12 – 4pm Where possible, we are happy to make an appointment outwith these hours.

Please email: art@doubtfiregallery.com