East Sussex-based artist Chris Hill started painting and drawing after he retired. He took up watercolour lessons and was told that he needed only three primary colours and three brushes – which led him to draw and paint often, quickly and inexpensively.

His painting focuses on the natural world of his local area around Eastbourne, where the South Downs meet the English Channel. He walks and cycles, photographing the rolling hills, the ever-changing sea and the windswept wilderness of the local marshlands to capture the scenes on canvas.

Chris uses a range of media in his work to achieve the effects he is seeking – from watercdolour, ink and charcoal to pencil, pastels, wax crayon and gesso. 

Because of his use of different media, Chris does not consider himself as a ‘purist’ and initially found it difficult to fit in with established art genres. This led him to set up his own Facebook group, OpenArt, which has an ‘anything goes’ ethos – an open and inclusive forum where all ages and abilities are welcomed.