CHINWE CHUKWUOGO-ROY
NIGERIA
An outstanding painter and printmaker born in Nigeria and now living in Suffolk, Chinwe has exhibited internationally and is perhaps best known for her official portrait of HM The Queen (during the 2002 Golden Jubilee celebrations), for which she received worldwide recognition. Much of her work is in oils, etchings, monotypes and pastels and her subjects range from portraiture, still life and landscape, to pictures which capture the traditions and cultures of the African continent. Chinwe plans to produce a series of oil paintings in canvas and etchings during her residency.
“Having the time, space and freedom to be creative without the many encumbrances of normal everyday life, took me on an incredible journey. The Glenfiddich Residency offered the opportunity in an environment that gave new and diverse stimuli, in a place with a different approach to life and this greatly enhanced and enriched my work. The state of being on one's own focuses the mind on being creative. Although normally prolific with my work, the Residency, which is a unique and philanthropic programme acclerated it even more. Because of the specific time limit or the amount of stimuli or both, the work was of an increasingly high level and I was brimming with new ideas as the residency came to an end.” Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, September 08
"Colours and light have always been a main source of inspiration for me and people and flowers (poppies and hibiscuses) have been the vehicle from which I derive my inspiration. The play of light on colour can be seen in almost anything but every now and then a particular glow from a particular light angle strikes at the primordial in us. For me, this is red and the many related pigment created by the action of the light through it. An example of this can be seen when light shines through whisky. I am interested in people’s history and would like to incorporate that in some way in my work, maybe through the relationship between the staff, owners and the produce." Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, June 08
