Christina Hopkinson There’s Always One, watercolour on paper, 21x29in (53.5x73.5cm)
Christina Hopkinson has been awarded the inaugural Chairman’s Award, sponsored by The Artist, at the recent Association of Animal Artists’ spring exhibition, held at the Castle Park Arts Centre in Frodsham. Christina focuses mainly on native birds and animals and, living in a semi-rural part of Staffordshire, says she only has to look out of her window for inspiration. ‘I use photography for my reference collection’, she writes, ‘and work out ideas in my sketchbook, which I love. It’s where I can experiment and enjoy making marks, embracing success and failure as part of the creative process. In June 2016 I joined the Association of Animal Artists; (www.associationofanimalartists.com), which holds two exhibitions a year: one in the spring, and one in the autumn.’ Christina was presented with an engraved glass trophy, a year’s subscription to The Artist magazine and two brush bouquets from Rosemary & Co. Artists’ Brushes. To see more of Christina’s work, go to www.harmonyart.co.uk