Meet the Artist - Chris Wood aka Woody
Can you tell us a bit about your work and what you like to paint?
I mainly work in oil paint and tend to move between landscapes, seascapes and urban scenes. A lot of my landscape work is inspired by time spent hiking in the Lake District, and volunteering with Fix the Fells building and maintaining the stone paths in the mountains. I’m also drawn to urban environments, with a story or a feeling of curiosity, and the quiet moments you find in towns and cities. More recently, I’ve started venturing into portrait painting, which feels like a new and slightly daunting challenge, but one I’m really enjoying exploring.
How have your years of hiking in the Lake District influenced your landscapes?
Walking in the Lake District has had a huge influence on how I see landscape. Spending long hours out in all kinds of weather makes you really aware of light, atmosphere and how quickly things can change. I’m less interested in painting a specific viewpoint exactly as it is, and more in capturing a sense of place — how it feels to be there, the weight of the sky, or the quietness of a path after other walkers have passed through.
What draws you to oil paints, and when do you choose acrylics instead?
I love the depth and flexibility of oil paint. The slower drying time suits the way I work, allowing me to build layers, rework areas and let the painting evolve gradually. Oils feel very forgiving and physical, which I enjoy. I use acrylics less often, but they’re useful when I want to work more quickly or experiment without overthinking things too much.
You paint everything from wild landscapes to urban scenes and are now exploring portraits — what excites you about working across such different subjects?
I like the challenge of switching between subjects because each one asks something different of you. Landscapes can be expansive and atmospheric, urban scenes feel more structured and observational, and portraits bring an entirely different level of focus and responsibility. Moving between them keeps things fresh and stops me from becoming too comfortable — I’m always learning, which is exciting.
What’s it like being part of the FaMAS community, and how does working at Falcon Mill affect your day-to-day practice?
Being part of FaMAS has been really positive. Working alongside so many different creatives is motivating and encouraging, and it’s great to be able to have informal conversations about work, ideas and process. Falcon Mill itself is a brilliant place to work — the space, the focus and the sense of shared purpose all help create a routine that feels focused but relaxed. It’s a supportive environment that makes showing up and painting feel easier. FaMAS also has open days for the public to visit us and enjoy the artwork on display, this is also great interaction and inspirational.
See Woody's profile on our artists' page here and if you would like to check out his fantastic crime fiction writing, see more on Amazon here!
