I am Chris Watkins who lives at Chris's Art House. I open throughout the year for my arty friends to do workshops and also show their lovely arts & crafts. Our main opening is the 10 day Hampshire Open Studios in August and a 3 day Christmas Event at the end of November. I constantly change the rooms and arts to try new ideas so don't think one visit is enough! I also open by appointment.
My CV - I went to Romsey School, Barton Peveril and Winchester School of Art before going to London when I gained a First Class B.A. Hons. Degree in Constructed Textiles. I won both the Drapers Record Award (winner of best overall in constructed textiles), sponsored by London Design Consortium and the Promotrade Award (winner of best innovative use of materials in Europe), sponsored by Prato Expo Consortium, Italy. This resulted in my textiles and art being exhibited and sold at places such as the Royal Festival Hall Southbank London, Prato International Trade Show Florence Italy, Osbourne and Little, Macey New York, Liberty of London and Harrods London. I was also lucky to have features in The Times, Mail on Sunday, local newspapers, on Italian News and the BBC. This led me to winning Young Career Woman of the Year sponsored by NatWest Bank and UK Federation of Business and Professional Women. |
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I wanted to expand my commercial knowledge and support to do my MBA I took a job for an American Packaging and Paper company, where I won Smith & Nephew PLC’s annual award. Their labs and work gave me extensive knowledge of recycled paper, glue, packaging, production, print law and print. I then took a job as packaging manager for a London Design Agency in Oxford Street. I went on to become their Accounts Director heading accounts such as Whitbread plc, Sella Artois, Heinz and Volvo. Though I enjoyed this company I was offered the best opportunity any designer could want. I was recruited to set up and head the Creative Services Department at Midland Bank to create and produce the HSBC brand in the UK. I was then asked to also join the international HSBC team who were heading the roll out of the new brand worldwide. This is still the most amazing job I have done; working with THE best, committed and fun people I have ever met. I won HSBC Bank's GEM Award for outstanding contribution to the Bank. From this I was head hunted to head Presentations for Europe M&A at Goldman Sachs International Bank. For personal reasons I came back to Romsey and for nearly ten years was Chief Executive for an Environment Charity. In this period I became known for creating and heading European funded projects; raising over 5m Euros for Hampshire and West Sussex energy projects and televised on BBC South Politics Show.
Throughout my career I have always taken on interesting private commissions and since 2010 I am working full-time on my own work in paint, clay, paper, wood and fabric. Due to my own house development I am best known locally for designing rooms and quirky art pieces. But nationally I am best known for my textiles and fashion where I take on bespoke commissions from private people and companies such as Next PLC.
Throughout my career I have always taken on interesting private commissions and since 2010 I am working full-time on my own work in paint, clay, paper, wood and fabric. Due to my own house development I am best known locally for designing rooms and quirky art pieces. But nationally I am best known for my textiles and fashion where I take on bespoke commissions from private people and companies such as Next PLC.
