the artist

Christopher Spaven's life has been fortunate. Seemingly always centred around pencil and paper, pen and ink, charcoal and paint.

"My student days at art school in James Street were truly wondrous. Our attention was drawn to the exacting draughtsmanship of the Renaissance Masters. We discovered the wonderful design of the human body in life drawing class, the importance of form, the relationship between skeletal structure, muscle tension, and weight placement.

Eventually my love of colour and print took me into a successful graphic design career. Working as an art director, and helping to raise two daughters (both very artistic), left little time for the fine arts.

A fortunate encounter led me to the UWA boatshed life drawing group on Wednesday mornings. Time out!

"In an awkward pose the model sulks, we stand with charcoal poised ..."

I soon found new friends. Among them my schooldays art master Geoff Allen, who wrote the above quote.

Growing with my art, I sold the odd drawing. Eventually confidence built to exhibiting. How time flies!

Whenever travelling, it’s with a sketch book. Time to soak up locations such as Kakadu, sitting on the Great Wall with pen and ink, living the dream.

Our life drawing group still get together on a Wednesday. New location. Some wonderful models and friends, old and new."