Christine Wilcox-Baker
I have a very enquiring mind. The natural world excites me and I want to explore it. Researching my subjects, learning new skills, portraying my discoveries in a range of media to suit each piece of work, really drives me forward. Projects are diverse but the central themes of nature, place, people and narrative are often integral to the work.
In 2008 I graduated MA Art as Environment from Manchester Metropolitan University and importantly my work gained clearer focus and definition. Always an artist but also a passionate gardener, these two paths have now started to merge and I am more influenced by food cultivation and sustainability.
A key part of my work is story telling. I use visual imagery to portray information in order to engage the viewer to learn in different ways. For example my metalwork projects often tell the story of the location they are commissioned for. My project about Diabetes gave health information in ways different to the usual methods. The stories come through my own research and often also with input through collaborating with the diverse groups I work with.
I love to learn and new challenges allow me to continue my investigations and experimentations, therefore I do not limit myself to a single subject. The diversity of the projects I work on contributes elements to my understanding of the greater whole. My explorations include nature, horticulture, heritage, medicine and wellbeing.
My work manifests as site responsive / site specific installations, sculpture, paintings, drawings, photography and mixed media. Enjoying a mixture of solo and collaborative working, with other artists, fabricators, diverse organisations and groups, I am also well versed in public and private funding initiatives and commissions.
Qualifications and training
2008 - MA Art as Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester
BA (hons) Graphic Design Maidstone College of Art
Diplomas in Interior Design and Specialist paint finishes, National Design Academy
Public commissions / projects
2020/21 - The Wire Works - HLF funded project about the history of wire making in Warrington. Comissioner - Warrington Borough Council.
2021 - Giving a paper / exhibiting at National Podiatry Conference, Liverpool. (postponed form 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic).
2019 - Two entrance archways for Handforth Railway Station, commissioned by Friends of Handforth Station. Shortlisted in the national ACoRP Community Rail Awards - Community Art Schemes (permanent).
2019 - Invited to take Seven thousand feet exhibition to the Diabetes UK Professional Conference, Liverpool
2018 - Seven thousand feet exhibition and related public sessions - accepted to be part of the Manchester Science Festival, with exhibition continuing after the festival
2018 - The Fascinating Family - additional piece for the Seven thousand feet exhibition, funded by The Physiological Society
2018 - 'Reflect two' re-worked sculpture for Friends of Handforth Station
2017 - New sculptural entrance and illustrated sign for Parrotts Field, Prestbury
2016 - Pop-up garden for Cheshire Gardens Trust - Highly Commended - Royal Cheshire County Show.
2014 - 15 'Reflect' sculpture for Friends of Handforth Station.
2014 - Art in a Box mini-gallery design for Handforth railway station. Finalist (placed third) in national ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Community Art Schemes (permanent).
2014 - King Canute sculpture acquired and installed by Knutford Town Council.
2014 - Invited by Arley Hall to create a bespoke garden bench for their curated sculpture exhibition.
2014 - Garden designed for the Cheshire Gardens Trust for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Shares in top show award in its category - 'Best Show Feature'.
2014 - Engaged as creative consultant to Holmes Chapel Local History Group for their WW1 centenery exhibition.
2014 - Lead artist for Dane Meadow Country Park - designing sculptural signage and illustrations. Managing creative theme across a range of suppliers.
2013 to 2014 - Elephant Parade - lifesize baby elephant - design and handpainting for year long, touring, public art exhibition
2013 - Entrance gateway, Elworth Park, Cheshire
2013 - Diamond Jubilee Arch, Bollington Town Council, Coronation Gardens, Bollington, Cheshire 2013 - Entrance gateway, Cheshire East Council, Elworth Park, Elworth, Cheshire
2012 - Diamond Jubilee Archway, Knutsford Library, Knutsford, Cheshire
2012 - Lewis Carroll Centre, All Saints' Church, Daresbury, Cheshire
2012 - Show garden sculpture for RHS Tatton Park Flower Show - Silver Medal Winner
2011 - Lewis Carroll Centre and Birthplace: Installations, designs and related projects, All Saints Church + The National Trust, Daresbury, Cheshire
2010 - Lewis Carroll Birthplace site: permanent sculptural installation - metalwork, National Trust, Daresbury, Cheshire
2009 - ‘BREATHING PLACES’ (BBC/Big Lottery): design of Churchyard garden extension and bespoke wooden bench, All Saints' Church, Daresbury, Cheshire
2009 - The Settlement - design & workshops for Arts & learning Centre, The Settlement, Maryport, Cumbria - also bespoke Storytelling wallpaper and fabric plus interior schemes,
2008 - Floating Garden for Cheshire Year of Gardens, The Waterways Trust, Ellesmere Port Boat Musuem
2008 - Look Sea: celebratory installation for Liverpool Capital of Culture, Liverpool Parish Church, Liverpool
2007 - ....broad seas.... installation to celebrate 175th anniversary of Lewis Carroll's birth - artwork recycled after use, All Saints' Church, Daresbury, Cheshire
2005 - THE LAKE GATE - metalwork entrance gateway with disabled access, Pickmere Parish Council, Pickmere, Cheshire
Solo exhibitions
2011 - CULTIVATE AND CELEBRATE; Treasures of the Kitchen Garden, Kirkby Gallery, Merseyside
2010 - CULTIVATE AND CELEBRATE: Treasures of the Kitchen Garden, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Group exhibitions
2019 - SEVEN THOUSAND FEET at Diabetes UK Professional conference, Liverpool Arena and Conference Centre
2018 - SEVEN THOUSAND FEET, Manchester Central Library
2013 - CREATIVE WHISPERS, MadLab, Manchester
2011 - SHROPSHIRE BUTTERFLIES , Dudmaston Hall, Shropshire
2008 - CReATE: Artists and their pallets, Gallery Oldham, Greater Manchester
2007 - CUBICLISM: site responsive exhibition - 4 artists, Victoria Baths, Manchester
2007 - THE BIG DRAW: artist led creation of giant waterways themed mural, The Waterways Trust, Ellesmere Port Boat Museum
Residencies
2009 - Artist in residence May 2009 to May 2010, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire
Competitions, prizes and awards
2019 / 20 - Several awards for the Seven Thousand Feet project:
University of Manchester Making A Difference Awards for Social Responsibility 2020 - Highly Commended for the Seven thousand feet team.
National Quality in Care (QiC) Award in Diabetes for Collaboration of the Year - Adults 2019 - Highly Commended.
University of Manchester Outstanding Contribution to Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement 2019 - Highly Commended awarded to Christine Wilcox-Baker for Seven thousand feet project.
NIHR CRN Greater Manchester Awards for Public Engagement (2019). Winner of the Best Public Engagement Contribution category.
University of Manchester Making a Difference Award for Social Responsibility 2019 - Commendation for to Christine Wilcox-Baker to recognise outstanding public contribution to share knowledge, enrich lives and inspire our communities.
University of Manchester Outstanding Contribution to Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement 2019 - Winner - to Karen Cosgrove for integration of PPIE with teaching portfolio, including development of this website and other resources for Seven thousand feet.
2017 - Pop-up garden for Cheshire Gardens Trust - Presidents Special award and Highly Commended award - Royal Cheshire County Show
2016 - Pop-up garden for Cheshire Gardens Trust - Highly Commended - Royal Cheshire County Show.
2014 - Art in a Box mini-gallery design for Handforth railway station. Finalist (placed third) in national ACoRP Community Rail Awards 2015 - Community Art Schemes (permanent).
2014 - Garden designed for the Cheshire Gardens Trust for RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Shared in top show award in its category - 'Best Show Feature'.
2013 - Elephant Parade national tour - 'Stop The Traffic' design selected.
2012 - Show garden sculpture for RHS Tatton Park Flower Show - Silver Medal Winner
2012 - Community Pride 'Little Gem' award for The Lake Gate, Pickmere
2010 - Tatton Park Biennial - shortlisted, Tatton Park, Cheshire
2005 - THE ROYAL MINT - Short listed - competition to design the reverse of six coins of the realm, The Royal Mint, London
2004 - Cowparade Manchester - designs handpainted onto two lifesize fibreglass cows for public art exhibition + design for porcelain miniature, Cowparade, Manchester
Publications
2019 - Physiology News magazine - article about Seven thousand feet project
2018 / 19 / 20 - newspapers and journals ref Seven thousand feet project
2014 - RHS Flower Show catalogue illustration for Marketing Cheshire.
2014 - Illustated 'Education' and 'Information' leaflets for Dane Meadow Country Park
2013 - Illustrations for Cheshire Gardens Trust
2011 - Butterflies of Shropshire: illustrations for art & poetry anthology
2010 - Photographs for Bioblitz website