Family: Newsome artist Chris Fallowfield is heading for 60 and his studio

Jan 27 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

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Early retirement offers the opportunity to pursue new interests or second careers. For grandfather-of-three Chris Fallowfield, who will be 60 this year, the chance to give up full-time work has allowed him to fulfil a lifelong ambition to become a professional artist. He talked to HILARIE STELFOX

CHRIS FALLOWFIELD paints images of what he sees around him – the dramatic West Yorkshire scenery with its dry stone walls, woodland and canals.

It is the landscape of his adopted county and the countryside that was, until recently, his workplace.

His paintings are colourful, detailed and atmospheric. In last year’s Huddersfield Art Society exhibition, he had three works in the top 20 favourite pictures – as voted by members of the public. A large oil canvas entitled Thaw, Canalside was the number one.

Although Chris, who lives in Newsome and has a studio at Bates’ Mill Artspace, has been painting all his life, it’s never been more than a hobby until now.

But with his 60th birthday looming and the realisation that his job as a freelance gardener and dry stone waller was becoming a little too tough on ageing bones, he made the decision to change direction.

“When I was younger I knew I couldn’t make a living out of painting, but now I’m hoping that I can. It’s not a hobby any more,’’ said Chris.

With the support of his wife, Dorothy, who manages a team of social workers and can offer financial backing until her own retirement in a few years time, he gave up his business in December and now goes to work each day at the studio.

“I love it,’’ he said. “I get up in the morning, just as I always did, my wife drops me off at the studio on her way to work, and I get on with it.’’

Chris has always been interested in the natural world, which is why he chose to spend his working life out of doors as much as possible.

Painting was an extension of this passion for the countryside and the dry stone walls that he once repaired are now key elements in much of his work.

“I paint them when they’re in an interesting state of disrepair, not all tidy like they are when I’ve finished working on them,’’ he said.

More recently he has also become interested in life drawing and portrait painting. His studio exhibits some of the results of experiments, with figures from burlesque as well as a portrait of an infant grandson.