Chris Summer

Meet Chris Summer - Artist statement

Chris Summer is a contemporary Australian artist, creating meticulously detailed art with passion and patience. With over a decade of experience as a self-taught artist, Chris has developed a distinct vision in his realism artwork, exploring detail and the sensitivity of light, whether it’s through acrylic painting on canvas or his unique combination of charcoal and white ink drawing.

'My deep love for the process of making fine art

allows me to feel connected to something greater than myself

and to reflect that into the world.'

Born in England in 1979, Chris spent his formative years with his family living on British army bases in countries such as Hong Kong and Germany, before they settled in London when he was in his early teens. At the age of 30 however, Chris traded the bustling city life for the serene beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia, where he found the ideal environment to immerse himself in his art.

Nature has always been Chris’s primary inspiration for his artwork. Initially starting out as a wildlife artist, he found joy in capturing the beauty and intricacy of the natural world through his art. This was deeply influenced by his wildlife experiences from travel, which include; cage diving with great white sharks, encounters with Komodo dragons in Indonesia, crocodiles in the Northern Territory of Australia, and snorkeling with whale sharks and giant Manta rays,  enriching his understanding and appreciation of the natural environment.

However, he soon realised that while he loved experiencing wildlife in its natural habitat, it didn’t necessarily translate into the greatest satisfaction in his art. Leading him to explore the subject of still life, where he found a new avenue to express his creativity and passion for capturing intricate details with dynamic lighting, allowing him to bring his chosen subjects, such as Urchins and feathers, to life on canvas, with much more creative freedom and in a way that resonates deeply with viewer.

As Chris meticulously works with the smallest brushes available and applies fine glazes to achieve the desired effects, his art can take up to 200 hours to create. While he appreciates colour art, he believes that, in it's absence, the subtleties and complexities of other elements, such as light, form, and texture, are emphasised, allowing for a deeper portrayal of emotion and subtlety in his art. Chris’s realism still life paintings often feature dynamic lighting, water elements, and meticulous attention to detail, showcasing his ability to bring still objects to life on canvas.

'I love Artists that leaves something to the imagination,

with gestural lines & palette knife strokes,

but for me, creating form and texture in that amount of detail

is the only way to represent a subject in its true and honest form.

What could be more beautiful than that?'

When he’s not in his studio, Chris can be found pursuing his hobbies, which include lap swimming, enjoying a good cup of coffee, immersing himself in science documentaries, and exploring museums… Chris has his own small fossil collection. He also indulges in his love for travel, having visited around 30 countries, including a 4 week solo journey through Vietnam where he drove a motorbike through the rural highlands along the Laos border, and experienced jungle wet caving in Son Doong, the largest cave in the world, situated in the heart of the Vietnam.

Chris Summer’s work has garnered recognition, appearing as a finalist in prestigious art prizes such as the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, the Muswellbrook Art Prize, and BBC Wildlife Artist Of The Year.

Through his dedication to capturing the essence of nature in his artwork, Chris aims to evoke a sense of connection and wonder in his viewers, inviting them to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the world around them through his detailed and emotive compositions.