Artist Biography: Christine Relton and Tom Marine

CHRISTINE RELTON and TOM MARINE

Christine RELTON 1959
Painter, born in Cumbria. Studied at Jacob Kramer in Leeds and gained Fine Art Degree from Lancaster based on time spent in India. Has also lived in Japan and Vietnam and painted widely throughout South East Asia. Imagery and focus on colour reflect this time. Since returning to the UK in 1996 has made collaborative representational works with TOM MARINE which continue to explore similar themes of place and memory.

Tom MARINE 1956
Painter, born in Hartlepool. Studied at Byam Shaw and Chelsea College of Art. As well as exhibiting and selling through galleries and fairs is also involved in Art in Education and Health. Paints in collaboration with CHRISTINE RELTON on representational works. Has completed many commissions in the health and private sector with Christine Relton and is involved in running workshops with children and various charities. Also exploring printmaking and has a separate focus in working with text which is mainly used in his work with children's workshops in schools.

Statement On Work

We work together on the same canvas. The paintings can be described as representational in that we start with an idea of a real place or event, usually based on some where we’ve been or something that happened - travel features a lot as the colours and images are stronger and more memorable.

We’ll decide what we want to paint and draw out rough ideas on the canvas together, then start painting it. Usually one will paint for a while and then the other will take over. There usually comes a point where the painting kind of takes on a life of its own.

It usually involves a lot of over painting and adjustment and the good thing about working together is it stops you from getting too stale or too precious about the work. We always use acrylic paint for the same reason - it dries fast and allows a lot of manipulation and re-painting. The most successful pieces end up as more a representation of feeling rather than of specific place.

We consider it finished when the balance feels right and the colour works. The idea is to leave the viewer to interpret to a certain degree what they are looking at and leave space for their ideas to give meaning to the painting.