Artweeks with Christopher Townsend

As part of Oxfordshire Artweeks, the city’s largest arts festival, our Burford Gallery is hosting a select number of our artists across the week, from Sunday 18th May. We are delighted to be joined by five of our artists throughout the week, demonstrating how they bring their impressive pieces to life, whilst shedding light upon their practice and answering any questions you may have about their work.

On Monday 19th May join us in store to meet artist, Christopher Townsend between 11am and 4pm who will be bringing in his anvil and working on making leaves for his tree sculptures. He will also demonstrate how he bends and works with steel to make his sculptures.

Since graduating from Liverpool University with a first class combined honours degree in Fine Art and Psychology, the sculptor/artist Christopher Townsend has been working from his studio in Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, producing a portfolio of work featuring a broad range of themes and mediums.

With an awareness and interest in line, form and balance, Christopher’s current work is concerned with challenging sculptural space, through the creation of work which is wall, ceiling or floor based. Working with steel, found metal objects, stone and wood, Christopher takes inspiration from the agricultural landscape that surrounds his studio, and is also strongly influenced by an emotional connection to the sea and the South West coastline. The natural world, particularly indigenous trees, feature heavily in his work. “I am excited by the notion of creating a unique visual language with my work, describing and interpreting a journey through life and responses to stimuli, feelings and emotions.”

Mainly working to commission, Christopher’s work is held in private collections around the world and has been exhibited all over the country. He has also become involved in public art projects, carrying out practical inset days in schools, working with children from years 4 to 8. We are delighted to present a selection of Christopher’s work and to host him here for Oxfordshire Artweeks.