Chris Ross Williamson News

Emerging from the 1916 Dada art movement, ‘Surrealism’ (meaning ‘new reality’) continued to expand the artistic comment on the ‘absurdity’ of world events of the time (namely World War I) and that they were the result of ‘excessive rational thinking’. The movement sought to unburden the human mindset of taboos and societal norms in order to allow the expression of inner ‘truth’ and to experience freedom.

Who are your biggest artistic influences? When I went to art college, my outlook evolved, and my new heroes were people like Ralph Steadman, Gerald Scarfe & Grey Jolliffe. (I erred toward the more 'cartoony' side of things). More recently I have been inspired by artists such as David Shrigley, Sam Toft & Gary Bunt.

A good walk is certainly a lovely way to spend some time in the great outdoors, whether alone with our thoughts, or accompanied with friends and family. But it is also a valuable and oftentimes overlooked way to easily increase stamina and improve our mood. Many of us will be familiar with the feeling of having ‘blown away the cobwebs’ after a walk along the coast or may even have needed to ‘walk it off’ when trying to shift feelings of anger, sadness or frustration.

If the notion of springtime reminds you of countryside walks and newborn mammals galloping on their wobbly legs then Bev Davies’ On the Run certainly fits the bill (no pun intended). Her original watercolour painting on canvas beautifully depicts three young goslings, and its minimalist design complements any colour wall in your home.

It comes as no surprise that the creative world has many intersections and sometimes unexpected overlaps; from film and literature, to poetry and music. For paintings and fashion, this overlap has seen the birth of fantastic creations including Alexander McQueen’s affinity with the Elizabethan imagery and flamboyantly desirous ruffs and Versace’s love of Pop Art and artist Andy Warhol. 

We are thrilled to have just launched an exciting new collection of limited edition prints by popular artists Gary Walton, Nicky Litchfield, Jo Quigley, Dominique Salm, Nicola Wakeling, and Chris Ross Williamson.

The new year brings with it new hope and opportunities...and Collier & Dobson are bringing you all NEW limited edition prints! We are thrilled to be launching a tantalising new collection of art to brighten your day (and your walls!) in just a couple of weeks time.

You don’t have to wait for the summer to enjoy panoramic sea views; take full advantage of the nautical whimsy in Gary Walton’s Waiting For the Tide which balances the warmth and familiarity of the seaside with a romantic simplicity, creating an air of nostalgia that lulls you into a sense of calm and serenity.

The antics of our canine companions, and the outpouring of love we have for them is a joyous thing to behold, as are the many depictions of our puppy pals the art world has to offer. From Pablo Picasso’s delightful depictions of Lump, a frolicsome Daschund with whom he had a wonderfully fond friendship, to more contemporary compositions, our pampered pooches prove just as popular on canvas as they are in our homes.

Each year it seems that the seasons change a little, and become less defined, yet certain traditions and festivities prevail to this day. Winter solstice, the shortest day of the year (and longest night), falls on the 21st or 22nd December, and is observed worldwide in many different ways. The Hopi Indians celebrate Soyal, one of their most important ceremonies, in which they call the sun back from its winter slumber.

The darker days of Winter are a great time to experiment with some new lighting to help brighten your home, or to add a splash of colour with some new soft furnishings and artwork.

As we move through autumn and into winter, the days continue to grow ever shorter and darker...The lower levels of daylight at this time of year can mean that we experience a dip in our serotonin levels which can, in turn, lead to low mood and feelings of depression. The changing seasons certainly can affect our wellbeing but, thankfully, art can help.