An outstanding painter and printworker, born in Nigeria she moved to the UK in 1975 and settled in Suffolk. Chinwe had exhibited all over the world and was 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 was in oils, etchings, monotypes and pastels and her subjects ranged from portraiture, still life and landscape, to pictures which capture the traditions and cultures of the African continent. Chinwe produced a series of oil paintings in canvas and etch prints during her residency. Chinwe passed away in December 2012.
“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.“