Christian Hook
Born1971
Gibraltar,
NationalityGibraltarian
EducationIllustration, Middlesex University
MovementContemporary Figurative Art
Websitechristianhook.com

Christian Hook (born 1971) is a Gibraltarian contemporary artist.[1]

Hook was born in Gibraltar in 1971. He studied illustration at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom, and then worked as a part-time lecturer at the Royal College of Art in London.[1]

In 2014 he won the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year contest with a portrait of Alan Cumming.[2] The painting was later chosen by John Leighton, director of the National Galleries of Scotland, as one of the best 100 paintings in its collection.[3]

Hook has also painted Kristin Scott Thomas[4] and Ian McKellen.[5] He was awarded the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar in 2017.[6]

In 2018, Hook released his ‘KI’ series, a collection of large-scale oil paintings inspired by his travels around Japan, focusing mainly on the ancient traditions of calligraphy and 'Chi'.[7]

Hook was the keynote speaker at Althorp Literary Festival 2018.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

Selected Major Commissions/Portraits

Hook has been commissioned by and produced portraits for figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, Sarah Ferguson, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Sir Ian McKellen, Amir Khan, Mick Hucknall, Kristin Scott Thomas and Sue Johnson, among many others.[11]

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, London), 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 National Galleries of Scotland,[19] alongside pieces by Botticelli, Rembrandt and Matisse.

  • 2017 - Awarded 'Freedom of the city Gibraltar'[20]
  • 2015 - 'Honey Jar' - Portrait of Alan Cumming selected by Lord Leighton as one of the 100 masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland[21]
  • 2014 - Winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist Of The Year – UK[22]
  • 1991 - Kate Parker Life Drawing Award – London[23]

Public Collections

Christian’s work is included in numerous significant public and private collections, including but not limited to:[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Exploring the Art of Gibraltar: An Interview with Christian Hook". Culture Trip. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  2. ↑ "Christian Hook". National Galleries of Scotland.
  3. ↑ "Revealed: The 100 greatest masterpieces in Scotland's national galleries, according to its director". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "A profile of the artist Christian Hook, co-star of our Kristin Scott Thomas fashion shoot". 'How to Spend It', Financial Times. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  5. ↑ Chaudari, Saiqa. "Actor Sir Ian McKellen finds himself in the frame". Bolton News. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  6. ↑ "Parliament approves Hook's Freedom of the City | Gibraltar Chronicle". Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  7. ↑ Longabaugh, AJ (31 May 2018). "Christian Hook has found his Ki". VMan. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "2018 Althorp Literary Festival Line-Up Released". Country & Townhouse. 3 October 2018.
  9. ↑ "Christian Hook Sky Arts Documentary". Digi Guide. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  10. ↑ Beth, Shya (3 March 2020). "Christian Hook: Painting The Essence of Time". Equine Info Exchange. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "Christian Hook - Bio". Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "Hook To Paint Branson". Gibraltar Chronicle. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "A profile of the artist Christian Hook, co-star of our Kristin Scott Thomas fashion shoot". 'How to Spend It', Financial Times. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Christian Hook - Bio". Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  15. ↑ "PAST EVENT: Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year". Cass Arts - Blog. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "Portrait of me by Christian Hook". Alan Cumming Blog. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  17. ↑ Ferguson, Brian. "Portrait Artist of the Year honours Alan Cumming". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  18. ↑ Chaudari, Saiqa. "Actor Sir Ian McKellen finds himself in the frame". Bolton News. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Christian Hook Portrait Cited as a 'Masterpiece'". Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  20. ↑ "Christian Hook - Bio". Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "Christian Hook Portrait Cited as a 'Masterpiece'". Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  22. ↑ "PAST EVENT: Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year". Cass Arts - Blog. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "Christian Hook - Bio". Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "Christian Hook - Bio". Retrieved 7 July 2018.
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