~ Artist Profile ~
Birthplace: Wales Background: Studied and received a diploma in Agricultural Science Fully qualified Guild Commended Picture Framer Has her own Picture Framing business in her hometown of Bwlch, Brecknockshire. Teaches & Demonstrates techniques in schools and community art groups.
Medium: Acrylic & calligraphy Inks - An eclectic mix of techniques: By utilising the qualities of the good watercolour paper Christina is able to work wet in wet, achieving natural organic textures within the painted areas. This difficult and often unpredictable technique gives her work a unique and distinctive style. Hemp and Himalayan hand made Paper plus papers hand made by the Artist, feature in a new collection of abstract contemporary works.
Style: Christina has compiled a new series of Celtic designs that feature traditional and contemporary motifs: Animals, birds, religious and cultural symbolism. The artist's hand-made papers are semi-abstract and employ traditional colours for a highly contemporary appeal, yet retaining an old, weathered splendour. In this way Christina resurrects, old, half-forgotten formats and with an imaginative twist can transform them into something somewhere between old and brand spanking new. Christina's newest work is the re-interpretation of Mayan Indian glythic writing system. The technique involves using calligraphy ink on watercolour paper to create a glowing watercolour style. Until recent times the communication system used by the Mayan Indians was shrouded in mystery. However in the 1980s experts began making real progress deciphering the code and a whole new world fell before us. As Christina explained, "There is of course a marvellous contradiction because this 'new' world is not new in itself - it is only new, or unfamiliar to us…and without ever being fully conscious of it, our modern civilisations have borrowed and assimilated much of the ancient cultures and claimed it as their own. It's very like the biblical assurance that "the stone that the builders have rejected has become the corner stone." She continues, "I think, generally, there is a form of hypocrisy about how, as a civilisation, we perceive ourselves. By re-interpreting the Mayan hieroglyphics I want to expose some of this ambiguity, and open up a new narrative." The artist is confining her interpretation to a particular theme of the glyphics: the Nine Lords of the Night. This is the first series for Christina who is hoping to provide an ongoing narrative, with the aim of extrapolating the writings for a modern audience.
Keywords: Traditional. Majestic. Bold. Fluid. Dynamic. Curious. Noble.
Comment: This work is highly unique. The artist has resurrected a wonderful anachronism by a tremendous leap of imagination - both personal and historic. Her work has a spiralling, playful freedom and a wilful expedience in the arch boldness of the images and shapes. The Mayan Indian hieroglyphs are executed with painstaking precision reflected in the intricate detail and intuitive use of colour Her works have become much sought after by collectors and art lovers alike, this being the reason for her continued success in Northern Ireland.
First in Wales Bwlch based picture framer and artist, Christina Scurr, has become the first framer in Wales to gain the Fine Art Guild's qualification in Advanced Accreditation Mount Design and Function.
Christina showed off her superior design skills by presenting an unusual mount of salmon flies in a multiple aperture mount, which incorporated a hand painted marbled panel and matching bevel edge. All the test pieces were presented in bespoke hand painted frames with matching colours & textures.
The diversity of decorative techniques that Christina demonstrated shows the range of her ability, design creativity, skill and finish. Examples of Christina's work, including some of the test pieces, can be seen at the Gliffaes Country House Hotel. As a Guild Commended Framer, Christina Scurr already held the professional qualification that distinguishes skilled framers from the semi-skilled, but in Wales she is now uniquely qualified to provide consumers with the superior design, craftsmanship and service that is associated with the Advanced Accreditation Mount Design and Function qualification.
Christina has also recently completed a course in picture restoration at the Sheffield school of the industry's leading guru - Pete Bingham.
Anyone who has pictures that require 'bringing back to life' or, require framing in that special way, should contact Christina on
01874 730115 or mail info@christinascurr.co.uk
No artwork on this web site maybe reproduced without the express permission of
