Chris Ross Williamson News

• How Banksy Became One of Britain’s Most Infamous Contemporary Artists
  One morning in the late 90s, the town of Stokes Croft, Bristol awoke to a large wall mural depicting a teddy bear branding a molotov cocktail aimed at three armed policemen. The scene, which was painted across the wall of a solicitor’s office, is said to allude to the illegal raves that were becoming increasingly popular in the area. It is also thought that the specific trigger for this painting came from the Winterstoke Road riot; an event whereby police officers attacked unarmed partygoers. It was titled Mild Mild West (alluding to Bristol being in the west country) with the alias ‘Banksy’ signed below.  
  
• What is Modern Art?
  

  The term, however, is actually used to describe artistic works created from the 1860s to 1970s (more recent and present day works are referred to as 'contemporary' or 'postmodern' art).

  According to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Industrial Revolution greatly influenced late 19th Century artists to break with tradition, and to begin experimenting and creating art more suited to the evolving 'modern age'.

  
  
• A Brief History of Father's Day
  This day of celebration for fatherhood is said to date back to the early 1500s when the Catholic Church supported its celebration on Saint Joseph's Day, otherwise known as 'The Feast of Saint Joseph'. The day reveres the "Nourisher of the Lord" (as referred to in Catholicism) or "the putative father of Jesus" (as known in Southern European tradition), and so was a fitting time to mark appreciation for Fathers.
  
• Home Decor Trends for Summer 2022
  

  As we make our way into the temperate month of June, let's take a look at 5 décor trends tipped to be big this summer.
  
  

  1 - Limitless Luxe

  Pinterest summarise the Limitless Luxe trend as a way of introducing a little luxury into the “least-expected corners of your home”, so that every nook and cranny radiates luxe, and even the utility room or under-stairs study area are filled with opulence.

  
  
• What's Hot in May 2022 – Love, Laughter, and Lunar Celebrations!
  

  From ongoing pandemics to heart-breaking conflicts and rising heating costs, it has been yet another shaky start to everyone's year. But we're now nestled in the warmest month of spring, and hopefully many of us can look forward to brighter days to come.

  Joyfully, May kicks off with the feel-good observances of Global Love Day and World Laughter Day; both falling on the first day of the month.

  
  
• Looking After Our Green Spaces and Britain's Urban Wildlife
  You don't have to live in rural areas to find a wealth of wild animals in the UK. In Britain's towns and cities, it is possible to spot birds of prey, urban foxes, bumblebees, and tufted ducks to name just a few. The Wildlife Trust states, “The green spaces of our towns and gardens bring nature into our daily lives, brightening our mornings with birdsong and the busy buzzing of bees”.
  
• How Easter is Celebrated and Why
  The popular Christian festival and cultural holiday is joyously anticipated each Springtime, enjoyed for its message of hope and renewal and is celebrated in a wealth of ways, some of which may seem unconnected to its religious beginnings.
  
• Colour Choices in Our Homes
  We spend a lot of time carefully perusing paint swatches and flicking through fabric samples to find the colours that are 'just right' for our homes, even finding ourselves revisiting them and redecorating only a few years later.
  
  Not only do we make colour choices to reflect and help communicate the way in which we are currently feeling but we might also choose specific colours to influence how we aspire to feel.
  
• How Art Can Elicit an Emotional Response
  

  You may have experienced the power of a piece of music, a film, a photograph or painting to make you feel something, from joy or despair to excitement, and even distaste. Indeed, it is frequently argued that the generation of an emotional reaction is fundamental, and even the reason for, creating art.

  Aesthetic responses to art have historically been considered basic stimulus responses, but more recent studies, in which celebrated art historian Alexander Nemerov has been involved, suggest that these emotional responses are actually more complex.

  
  
• A Resurgence in Popularity for Figurative Art
  In recent months, after an arduous couple of years of museums sitting empty when the world was plunged into a communal lockdown, a number of high profile figurative art exhibitions have popped up in galleries and institutes around the globe. This has brought about a resurgence in the prominence of
  figurative art in popular culture...And the trend is set to continue in throughout 2022 in locations including London's Tate Modern, The Metropoloitan Museum of Art, Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria, and Florence's Museo Novecento.
  
• New Wall Art for 2022
  

  The new year brings with it new hope and opportunities...and Collier & Dobson are bringing you all NEW limited edition prints.  Today we are thrilled to be launching a tantilising new collection of art to brighten your day - and your walls!

  
  
• Countryside Winter Walks in the UK, and Their Artistic Influence
  

  We are blessed in the UK, with millions of acres of glorious countryside in which to admire the flora and fauna, and enjoy a seasonal stroll. 

  So tumultuous and captivating is scenic England, and so keen the urge to indulge in a rural ramble, that both have been an influence to artists time and time again.

  
  
• It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Symbols of the Festive Season
  

  Traditions of the annual celebration known and loved the world over stretch back thousands of years, with its roots in pagan midwinter festivals, later merged by early church leaders with Jesus' nativity celebrations.  The Christian holiday dates back to the fourth century and since that time Christmas customs have gradually changed over the years. But many of the ancient symbols and religious expressions of the season have been adopted and adapted, and persist to modern day.

  
  
• What is Abstract Art?
  

  The practice of abstraction in art refers to the use of 'gestures' to suggest the subject rather than creating accurate depictions of imagery. It can apply to different components of a piece, including colour, shape, line and composition.

  The origins of abstract art began very early in the 1900s, during the Modern Art movement, when rapid technological advancements in the West meant that artists needed to find new ways to represent the world around them and its hastily changing ideas and possibilities.

  
  
• Meet the Artist – Chris Ross Williamson
  This week we introduced new artist Chris Ross Williamson and his characterful collection of limited edition prints to the Collier & Dobson portfolio – so there's no time like the present to get to know the artist a little better.
  
• New Limited Edition Prints – Coming Soon
  We have been working very hard this Summer to bring you a fantastic new range of limited edition prints – with the new collections to be released this September.