Christian Hook (born 1971) is a

Gibraltar Gibraltar ( , ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory and British overseas cities, city located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Bay of Gibraltar, near the exit of the Mediterranean Sea into the A ...

ian

contemporary artist Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art i ...

. Hook was born in

in 1971. He studied

illustration An illustration is a decoration, interpretation, or visual explanation of a text, concept, or process, designed for integration in print and digitally published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, vi ...

Middlesex University Middlesex University London (legally Middlesex University and abbreviated to MDX) is a public research university based in Hendon, northwest London, England. The university also has campuses in Dubai and Mauritius. The name of the university is ...

in the United Kingdom, and then worked as a part-time lecturer at the

Royal College of Art The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public university, public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City, London, White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design uni ...

in London. In 2014 he won the

Sky Arts Sky Arts (originally launched as Artsworld) is a British free-to-air television channel offering 24 hours a day of programmes dedicated to highbrow arts, including theatrical performances, films, documentaries and music (such as opera perfor ...

Portrait Artist of the Year contest with a portrait of Alan Cumming. The painting was later chosen by John Leighton, director of the

National Galleries of Scotland The National Galleries of Scotland (, sometimes also known as National Galleries Scotland) is the executive non-departmental public body that controls the three national galleries of Scotland and two partner galleries, forming one of the Nation ...

, as one of the best 100 paintings in its collection. Hook has also painted Kristin Scott Thomas and

Ian McKellen Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has played roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cu ...

. He was awarded the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar in 2017. In 2018, Hook released his ‘KI’ series, a collection of large-scale oil paintings inspired by his travels around

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, focusing mainly on the ancient traditions of calligraphy and 'Chi'. Hook was the keynote speaker at Althorp Literary Festival 2018. Over the course of 2020 and 2021, Christian has been filming a Sky Arts documentary entitled 'Painting the Invisible'. The documentary will focus on Hook's new series of work which explores the concept of synaesthesia, and features several Nobel Prize winning scientists. Christian Hook works as a full time artist, challenging himself to create paintings “depicting motion, time and the moments that occur between events.” With this unique idea, Christian has created paintings of celebrities, historical landmarks and horses.

Selected Major Commissions/Portraits

Hook has been commissioned by and produced portraits for figures such as

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

, Sarah Ferguson, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Sir

, Amir Khan,

Mick Hucknall Michael James Hucknall (born 8 June 1960) is an English singer and songwriter. Hucknall achieved international fame in the 1980s as the lead singer and songwriter of the soul-influenced pop band Simply Red, with whom he enjoyed a 25-year caree ...

, Kristin Scott Thomas and Sue Johnson, among many others. *2020 - Portrait of Sir Richard Branson *2017 - 2 hour Live painting of Kristin Scott Thomas for cover of

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

‘How to spend It magazine’ - Paris *2017 - Live painting of ShiLai Liu, Chinese Entrepreneur *2016 - 2 hour live painting of the Maharaja of Jodhpur - India *2016 - 2 hour live painting of Joan Bakewell for

Awards *2016 - 2 hour live painting of British Actor

Simon Callow Simon Phillip Hugh Callow (born 15 June 1949) is an English actor. Known as a character actor on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including an Olivier Award and Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations for two BAFT ...

*2014 - Portrait of Amir Khan (world champion boxer),

Bolton Museum Bolton Art Gallery, Library & Museum is a public museum, art gallery, library and aquarium in the town of Bolton, England, owned by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council. The museum, Bolton Museum, is housed within the grade II listed Le Mans ...

, Permanent Collection *2014 - Portrait of

Alan Cumming Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer and presenter. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and an Olivier Award. He re ...

(Actor),

Scottish National Portrait Gallery National Galleries Scotland: Portrait is an art museum on Queen Street, Edinburgh. Portrait holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. It also holds the Scottish National Photography Collec ...

, Permanent Collection *2014 - Portrait of Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York) *2014 - Portrait of Sir Ian McKellen

Awards

In the course of his career Hook has won several awards, including the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2014 (in a presentation held at the

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

), and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar in 2017. His artwork was chosen by Sir John Leighton from 100,000 works as one of the ‘100 Masterpieces’ from the collection of the

, alongside pieces by

Botticelli Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi ( – May 17, 1510), better known as Sandro Botticelli ( ; ) or simply known as Botticelli, was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance. Botticelli's posthumous reputation suffered until the late 1 ...

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...

and

Matisse Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (; 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French visual arts, visual artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a drawing, draughtsman, printmaking, printmaker, ...

. *2017 - Awarded 'Freedom of the city Gibraltar' *2015 - 'Honey Jar' - Portrait of Alan Cumming selected by Lord Leighton as one of the 100 masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland *2014 - Winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist Of The Year – UK *1991 - Kate Parker Life Drawing Award – London

Public Collections

Christian’s work is included in numerous significant public and private collections, including but not limited to: *

Royal Collection The Royal Collection of the British royal family is the largest private art collection in the world. Spread among 13 occupied and historic List of British royal residences, royal residences in the United Kingdom, the collection is owned by King ...

Museum of Liverpool The Museum of Liverpool in Liverpool, England, tells the story of Liverpool and its people, and reflects the city's global significance. It opened in 2011 as newest addition to the National Museums Liverpool group replacing the former Museum o ...

* Gibraltar Museum

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hook, Christian 1971 births Living people British contemporary artists Date of birth missing (living people)