Address: Glevering Mill, Hacheston, Suffolk, IP13 0EY, United Kingdom

Website: www.chinwe.com and www.chinwe-gallery.co.uk

E-mail: chinwe@chinwe.com

BA Honors: Hornsey College of Art, London, UK

AWARDS

Honorary Doctor of Letters awarded by the University of East Anglia
Invited by The Cambridge Union to address the Union
Chosen as one of the Women of the Year in the UK in 2001 and 2002
Invited to represent the United Kingdom at the European Council Committee in Paris, addressing the colloquy on Contemporary African Art and Artists - 2003

I started painting professionally in 1988 and have exhibited widely. My work is in both public and private collections, including that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Workshops, Talks and Residencies

I have worked with many schools, colleges and universities including:

Residency:-

Workshops, Discussions and Talks with the public, schools and post graduate students during my Residency at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, England.

England:-

• Colchester Institute, Essex
• Easton Primary School, Suffolk
• The Perse, Cambridge
• Royal Hospital School, Suffolk
• Ickworth Park School, Suffolk
• Brettenham Primary School, London
• Coldfair Green Primary School, Suffolk
• Victoria School, Feltham

Nigeria:-

• Abuja:
  Talks and workshop with children from the 37 states of Nigeria in Abuja
  Talks and viewings with children from 7 schools at the International Conference Centre
  Workshops at Abuja school venues include:-
  The Federal Government Boys School
  Regina Pacis Girls Secondary School

• Awka:
  First Primary School

• Nationwide:
  Work with Ministry of Education, Heads of Schools and Teachers setting up workshops for training Teachers to Teach Art, to understand the historical importance of art to Nigeria and to overcome the prejudices that hinder art within the curriculum.

Moçambique:-

• Art Workshops: Tofo & Inhambane School

Creative Partner:-

Project at East Bergholt School, Suffolk, for EASTFEAST’S Arts based disciplines in its ‘Next Practice in Communities of Learning Programme’

Making a work of art has, all my life, been a very stimulating experience whether it is in 2D or 3D, so to make art for a living is more or less living a dream. With each new canvas, clay paper or plate that I work with, I aim to make a better art than all I had done before, to make a work that will reach people that will mean something and that will make them think and react or just take pleasure in. My work ranges from strong figurative to abstract images and varies from portraiture to still life, landscapes and images which capture the traditions and cultures of Africa. Strong colours are a major element of my art.

Much of my painting series revolves around African issues and the role of women worldwide. I am greatly disturbed by the disparity on these fronts. The many conflicts, economical malfunctions and the way Africa is viewed (inevitably women bear the brunt) as below and behind the rest of the world when in reality without Africa and Africans everywhere, many countries would collapse. I aspire to show not just the issues, but the achievements which are usually overlooked, in a way that is artistically and aesthetically composed.

2007
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, Norwich. An unprecedented exhibition alongside The Sainsbury’s ‘World Art Collection’
The Gallery in Cork Street ‘Land, Sea and Sunset’ - Solo exhibition
Royal Albert Hall, London, exhibition of select works

2006
Paintings and studies of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II used by Inter Governmental Philatelic Corporation on stamp issues in 7 countries to commemorate The Queen’s 80th birthday
Hall Segur, UNESCO, Paris, exhibition of ‘Ancestral Footsteps and other Works’

2005
The Mall Galleries, London, ‘Ancestral Footsteps’ - Solo exhibition
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies; Long term loan of 20 works

2004
The Gallery in Cork Street, London; ‘Seeing in Colours’ - Solo exhibition.

2003
‘Celebrate’ An exhibition for the Commonwealth at the Heads of Government Meeting, Abuja, Nigeria in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen.
The Lowry Gallery, Salford; Exhibition of The Queen’s portrait and the studies for it

2002
Portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II unveiled at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, London
Seven solo exhibitions across the UK running parallel with a touring exhibition of the Queen’s portrait and all the studies

2001
'Masks and Masquerades' - Solo exhibition at the Royal Commonwealth Society, London, UK
Presented a Paper ‘Africa Past, Present & Future’ at the University of Connecticut, USA

2000
'Africa Past, Present and Future' at Didi Museum, Lagos, Nigeria. Solo exhibition.
'Africa Past, Present and Future' at Trinity College, Cambridge University, UK. Solo exhibition

1998
'A Woman of Colour' - Solo Exhibition at The Art Exchange, Nottingham, UK
Ndu Ozo Series Solo Exhibition at Westbourne Gallery, London, UK

‘Chinwe Roy’ Black Profiles a. Verna Wilkins p. Tamarind Books; ISBN 1-870516-59-1

‘Celebrate!’ Nigerian Art for The Commonwealth p. SheeranLock; ISBN 1-900123-90-8

‘A Perspective on “African Art” a. Chinwe C-Roy Connecticut University; ISBN 0-915884-15-1

‘Problems facing Africa's Contemporary Artists’, paper presented to the Council of Europe at the Palais de Luxembourg, Paris; representing the UK

I have had many TV and Radio interviews and articles written about me world wide following the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. A selection of interviews and publications in general are detailed below:-