Christopher Tipping
Christopher Tipping is fascinated by the natural world - from tending his own garden to being passionate about wildlife and ecological issues globally. He is equally inspired by what we build and how our complex communities can co-exist, co-design, navigate and experience these spaces.
With a Master’s in Ceramics & Glass from the Royal College of Art, Tipping has a very personal creative methodology for thinking about and creating public art. He unpicks places and is ritualistic and obsessive in his process. He often begins with historical context, topography, timelines, maps, archive images, descriptions by historians and academics, written memories, stories, and anecdotes. Narratives are made manifest through drawing, painting and digital collage, cut up, rewoven and re-imagined.
The foundation of this approach lies in his ability to conjure original and contextually based resonant landscapes, focused on fine detail and quality materials, combined with a respect for life-long craft skills and advances in manufacturing technology.
His creative approach sets out to deliberately influence and shape collaborative and community design processes and outcomes. He has worked on large-scale high value projects as well as smaller, niche engagement and production projects, always drawing upon and communicating to others his singular vision, endless curiosity, and awe at the world around him.
Tipping has delivered meaningful public art projects nationally, notably as lead artist on the award-winning Margate Steps, Southampton’s Guildhall Square, Station Quarter North, and Rochester Riverside. His work for the Coventry Station Masterplan (Coventry City of Culture 2022) and as Principal Artist collaborating with public art consultants FrancisKnight for Whitecliffe Major Urban Park in Ebbsfleet situates Tipping’s work firmly within an architectural urban landscape and public realm, but he is as well known for his sensitive and original approach to creative expression within healthcare settings and healing environments where he feels he can make a direct and personal contribution.
Christopher produces a series of more personal work, paintings and limited-edition prints which continue to evolve out of his love and fascination for the natural world often expanding creative narratives instigated initially through his commissioned work.
Christopher Tipping MA (RCA)
Education
M.A. Ceramics & Glass, Royal College of Art and Design, London
B.A. (Hons) Ceramics, West Surrey College of Art and Design
2022– 2024 TADCASTER BUS STATION & INTERCHANGE + TADCASTER COMMUNITY PORTRAIT
The 150sqm glazed canopy roof displays a colourful and original artwork titled ‘Tadcaster Extra-Ordinary’, digitally printed on glazing vinyl. ‘TAD’ah!’ is a 15sqm digitally printed community portrait celebrating Tadcaster’s creative community displayed at The Barn, a community hub in the centre of town.
Commissioned by Art Consultant Hazel Colquhoun for Client North Yorkshire County Council, with Digital Printers, VGL
2020 – 2022 TWO COMMISSIONS WITH PROJECT MOTORHOUSE, RAMSGATE
‘Camera Eats First’ + ‘Fantastical Worlds’ were delivered consecutively over two years. Both projects engaged in creative activity, especially photography and the co-authorship of temporary art installations in collaboration with Year 8 students from Royal Harbour Academy, Ramsgate. ‘Fantastical Worlds’ was first exhibited at The Wooden Box Gallery, Ramsgate in 2021 and then transferred to the Clore Learning Studio, Turner Contemporary, Margate from October 2022 to January 2023.
2022– 2024 PRINCIPAL ARTIST, ALKERDEN MAJOR URBAN PARK, EBBSFLEET GARDEN CITY, KENT
A collaboration with FrancisKnight Public Art Consultants for client Henley Camland to deliver a Public Art Strategy and to employ this research and creativity in influencing the design process, detailed design, and final delivery of a Major Urban Park at Alkerden at the heart of Ebbsfleet Garden City Development.
Commissioned by FrancisKnight Art Consultants for Client Henley Camland + Define Landscape Architects
2020 – 2022 COVENTRY CITY OF CULTURE 2021, COVENTRY TRAIN STATION + BUS INTERCHANGE
A 350sqm digitally printed architectural glazing artwork for the Grade II Listed Coventry Station. Commissioned as part of the £82m Station Masterplan Project, and in support of Coventry City of Culture 2021 celebrations. The main commission was supported by six Bus Shelter artworks for the adjacent £1.5m Bus Transport interchange.
Commissioned by Creative Giants Art for client Coventry City Council & Partners Avanti West Coast. The artwork was printed and installed by VGL Ltd. Bus Station Artworks were commissioned by Coventry City Council and Transport for West Midlands for the new Bus Terminal adjacent to the new Coventry Station. Both projects were manufactured and installed in creative collaboration with VGL Ltd.
2018 – 2024 ROCHESTER RIVERSIDE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Collaborating on a public art strategy for this housing development was inspired by site-specific and contextual research into the industrial, community and natural history and legacy of this important site, leading to the eventual manufacture and installation of embedded public realm artworks into the landscape and new community at Rochester Riverside, the flagship Medway development of 600 new homes by Countryside Properties.
Tipping was commissioned and managed by FrancisKnight Public Arts Consultancy for client Countryside Properties (UK) Ltd and The Hyde Group. Architects: BPTW. Landscape Architects: LUC. Specialist Contractors: IP Surfaces + Darwen Terracotta + Hargreaves Foundry.
2018 – 2019 WINCHESTER STATION APPROACH
A contextual study commissioned to deliver public art and landscape interpretation for the approaches to Winchester Station, and to influence and contribute to the design process and Masterplan outcomes developed by LDS Architects and Simon Taylor Urban Design Consultant
Commissioned by Simon Taylor Urban Design Consultant for client Winchester City Council. Architects: LDS. Specialist contractors and consultants: Hardscape
2018 – 2019 RNHRD & BROWNSWORD THERAPIES CENTRE, ROYAL UNITED HOSPITAL
*Best Collaborative Arts Project (Static)’ Building Better Healthcare Awards 2020
‘Flow’, architectural glazed screens with screen-printed enamels, acid etching and sandblasting, created for the Hydrotherapy Pool within the Therapies Centre.
Commissioned by Hetty Dupays, Arts Programme Manager, ‘Art at the Heart ’for client Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. Specialist Glazing and Decorative Finishes: Proto Glass Studios. Architects: IBI Group. Main Contractor and Developer: Kier.
2008 – 2018 AMY JOHNSON SQUARE, THE HAWTHORNS, HULL
’16 arc park’ is a public square set in the heart of a development of 600 new homes in West Hull inspired by the ground breaking flight of Amy Johnson in her Gypsy Moth G-AAAH Jason, from London to Darwin, Australia in 1930.
Commissioned by HULL CC Gateway & ARC, Architecture Centre for Hull Housing Developer: Keepmoat Homes. Architects: John Thompson & Partners. Specialist Contractors: Evans Concrete
2016 – 2017 THE FLOWER BOWL ENTERTAINMENT + LEISURE CENTRE, BROCK, PRESTON
The Flower Bowl Entertainment and Leisure Centre is a major entertainment venue, in Brock, Lancashire developed by The Barton Grange Group. The engraved artwork of flowers and plants is delivered over a 2000sqm architectural wrap-around rainscreen with the drawing routed into the Rockpanel cladding.
Client: Barton Grange Group & Hotel. Architects: Worthington Ashworth Jackson Walker. Contractor: Truman. Specialist Contractor and Collaborators: Rockpanel + The Cutting Room.
2018 – 2019 TAMESIDE MACMILLAN UNIT, ASHTON UNDER LYNE
Digitally printed original and site-specific wallcoverings, glazing vinyls and privacy screens. A visual story inspired by a 12 mile ‘Walk in the Tameside Landscape’ with a former cancer patient and project champion and installed throughout the unit’s public and outpatients’ areas and chemotherapy day unit.
Commissioned by Willis Newson Art Consultants for Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and Architect: IBI Group. Contractor: John Turner Construction Group. Landscape Architects: KKE Architects. Specialist Digital Suppliers: VGL and Kwickscreen.
2015 – 2019 CHATHAM PLACEMAKING PROJECT, CHATHAM, KENT
*Awarded Highly Commended for Chatham Placemaking Project, best use of arts, sports, or culture category Planning Awards 2020. Medway Council
‘These are Our Streets’, is a town centre public realm project which set out to improve the pedestrian and cyclist experience starting at Chatham Station via the town centre and ending beside the River Medway and riverside park via key visual architectural anchor points en route.
Commissioned by FrancisKnight Public Art Consultants on behalf of Medway Council & Network Rail
Landscape Architects: LDA Design with Project Centre. Contractors: J Loughman Civil Engineering. Specialist Bespoke Granite Suppliers: Hardscape
2012 – 2016 STATION QUARTER NORTH, SOUTHAMPTON
A £4million public realm & transport interchange project. Commissioned to research and deliver a contextually driven response to place, with which to influence the design outcomes, themes, and Masterplan via collaboration with the wider project team. Tipping worked closely with Andy Webster Landscape Architect at Halcrow to ensure the public art was fully embedded and an essential part of the delivered design.
Commissioned by Balfour Beatty Living Places & Southampton City Council. Consultants: Halcrow. Contractor: BBLP. Specialist Concrete Pre-Cast: CCP. Bespoke Granite Artworks: Hardscape. Lighting Consultant: Michael Grubb Associates.
2012 – 2016 THE WHITELEAF CENTRE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, AYLESBURY
A contextual & site-specific visual story was created from the history and legacy of the site.
Commissioned by Tom Cox, Director Artscape for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Architects: IBI Group. Contractor: Kier. Digital Printers: Guardian + VGL
2015 – 2016 MERTHYR TYDFIL BUS STATION PROJECT & LINK BRIDGE STUDY, MERTHYR TYDFIL
Appointed as the artist and creative consultant to the integrated design team tasked with influencing the design process, up to and including presentation to the Design Review for Wales panel and subsequent planning submission by collaborating with Capita Symonds, the project architects in delivering a new bus station and link bridge across the River Taff.
Commissioned by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. Architects: Capita Symonds. Transport Consultants: Mott Macdonald + Knight Architects
2015 CITY PARK WEST, CHELSMFORD
*2023 Regional RIBA Awards – East. Thomas Pollard Edwards for City Park West
City Park West by Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects for client NOTTING HILL GENESIS, shortlisted for *BUILDING MAGAZINE awards Project of the Year 2020
*City Park West by Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects shortlisted for the Regeneration Scheme of the Year in the British Home Awards 2020
‘A singular looking woman…’, Public realm, landscape & interpretation for Genesis Housing Association
Commissioned by Frances Lord Art Consultant for client Genesis Housing Association. Consultant Architects: Pollard Thomas Edwards + Area Landscape Architects. Contractors: Denne Construction & Bidwell’s.
2012 / 2014 MUSGROVE PARK HOSPITAL, TAUNTON
Two major projects, ’70 Years On’, & ‘Murmuration’, were commissioned for the Central Concourse and External Façade Entrance respectively, of the £34m Jubilee Surgical Building at Musgrove Park Hospital for Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. Both projects celebrated the opening of the new building which coincided with the 70th Anniversary of Musgrove Park.
Commissioned by Bronwen Gwillim Art Consultant + Musgrove Park Hospital Capital Projects team. Architects: BDP. Contractor: BAM. Specialist Fabricators: Architen Landrell + Commissioned by. Specialist Fabricators: Taunton Fabrications
2013 / 2014 SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY, SHEFFIELD
*2015 Winner of the CKE Special Award at the RISE Awards, Leeds
*2015 RIBA Regional Awards – Yorkshire and Humber for HLM Architects and Heart of the Campus
‘Heart of the Campus’ is a routed ‘engraved drawing’ across the Rockpanel rainscreen façade of the West Elevation of Sheffield Hallam University on their Collegiate Campus. This work is supported by digitally printed artwork manifestations installed on the East Elevation glazed curtain wall & interior glazed screens.
Client: Sheffield Hallam University. Consultants: Turner Townsend. Architects: HLM. Contractor: Graham. Specialist Manufacturers and Consultants: The Cutting Room + VGL Ltd
2010 / 2013 THE MARGATE FLOOD & COAST PROTECTION SCHEME, aka ‘MARGATE STEPS’
*2015 – Winner: ‘Civic Voice Award for Public Realm’ –
*2014 – Winner: Margate Civic Society ‘Town Pride Award’ -
*2013 - Winner: ‘Community Award’ at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South East England Engineering Excellence Awards 2013.
Appointed as artist consultant to Thanet District Council & the Environment Agency to become part of an integrated design team to inform the design process, final structure & interpretive detailing of this major sea defence works in collaboration with Thomas Darcy of Jacobs Design Team.
Commissioned by Margate Art & Cultural Heritage for client Thanet District Council & Margate Renewal Partnership. Urban Designer & creative collaborator Thomas Darcy, Jacobs Deign Team. Engineers: East Kent Engineering Practice. Contractor: Breheney. Specialist Concrete Pre-Cast: CCP Cornish Concrete Products.
2007 - 2012 GUILDHALL SQUARE – SOUTHAMPTON
*Winner: 2011 Street Design Awards - Editor’s choice category in the Local Government News
‘Hiatus’. Appointed as Lead Artist to Southampton City Council’s Cultural Quarter + Guildhall Square Regeneration Programme. Focussed on the interpretation, design, and delivery of a new civic square and public realm at the centre of Southampton’s Cultural Quarter. Outcomes included six 6m long polished concrete benches, paving artworks, and finishes.
Commissioned by Elizabeth Smith Public Arts Officer for client Southampton City Council. Engineers: Mott MacDonald. Contractors: Aggregate industries + Bardon Construction. Bespoke Concrete Benches: Decomo Belgium https://czwg.com/projects/featured-projects/studio-144/
2008 - 2009 COMBE DOWN STONE MINES STABILISATION PROJECT, BATH
‘1749 plates’ an installation and legacy project featuring 788 bone china plates created for the Combe Down Stone Mines Public Art Project, working in close collaboration with Combe Down community champions group.
Commissioned by Arts Consultants Frances Lord & Steve Gelliot for client Bath & North East Somerset Council. Project Managers: Provelio. Engineers: Scott Wilson & Hydrock. Project Collaborators: Dr Katie Bunnell ‘Autonomatic’, The Digital Research Centre at Falmouth University. Specialist Manufacturer: Digital Ceramic Systems Ltd. Specialist Consultants: Oxford Archaeology
2008 – 2009 NEWTOWN’S COVE FOOTBRIDGE, WEYMOUTH
*Awarded a Special Certificate of Merit by the Weymouth Civic Society 2009
This footbridge is part of the South West Coastal Path and replaces an original concrete structure. It also provides a platform for viewing Weymouth Bay, the Jurassic Coast & the nearby Olympic sailing site at Portland Harbour.
Commissioned by Arts Development Officers Cleo Evans and Alan Rogers for client Dorset Engineering Consultancy + Dorset County Council. Specialist Contractors: SureSet
2005 – 2008 LONDON ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON
*Winner: 2010 London Road was awarded Best Urban Transport Design from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, regarded as one of the top industry awards.
*Winner: 2009 London Road was Highly Commended in the Solent Design Awards which are all about the encouragement of quality place-making: schemes that create special places, lift communities & create richer experiences.
‘Void’. Inspired by the rose window void following the destruction of St Paul’s Church, London Road during WWII. ‘As part of the London Road project team the artist created a concept for a simple, elegant and uncluttered public realm which uses quality materials and paving patterns to emphasise existing focal points, meeting places, thresholds, makers and gateways.’
Commissioned by Southampton City Council & Elizabeth Smith Public Art Officer. Simon Taylor + Graham Redman SCC Design Engineers. Specialist manufactures: Pallam Precast Ltd + Quality Marble. Contractors: A Machola Ltd
2008 – 2010 DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL, DORCHESTER
‘True Life finds…Bed 29’ With a project brief ‘to explore the Jurassic Coast’, Tipping’s artwork is embedded over four floors of refurbished Hospital Streets, assisting in colour identity and wayfinding through waterjet cut and inlaid commercial vinyl flooring.
Commissioned by Alex Coulter Art Consultant for client Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Specialist Flooring Consultants: Tarkett & Sarah Alldritt. Creative Consultants: Dorset Museum Service & The Jurassic Coast
2007 – 2008 CARNIVAL HOUSE, CARNIVAL UK HQ, SOUTHAMPTON
‘Rossby Diptych’. ‘The Largest Longitude / Time Plot in the World’
One hundred and ninety-two bespoke precast concrete panels suggest a gently undulating sea surface. The front elevation rain screens of Carnival House on West Quay Road, Southampton was described by Tipping’s creative collaborator, Dr Paolo Cipollini, satellite oceanographer at the National Oceanographic Centre in Southampton as “the largest longitude / time plot in the world.”
Commissioned by Development Securities plc with Elizabeth Smith Public Art Officer Southampton City Council. Project Collaborators: Dr Paolo Cippolini Satellite Oceanographer National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. Specialist Concrete: Decomo Belgium. Architects: Auckett Fitzroy Robinson. Contractors: Miller Construction. Bespoke Mould Makers: Patterns & Moulds Ltd. 3D Modelling Consultant: SDE Ltd
2005 – 2007 ILAC SHOPPING CENTRE, DUBLIN
‘Stucco’ is created from 32 recessed panels of glass-reinforced plaster (GRP) with low relief modelling. Each panel is 16sqm and is positioned above a ground floor retail unit. Some panels have an additional layer of decorated 10mm toughened float glass. The 32 panels are presented as a series of interlinked and illuminated stories and observations.
Commissioned by Benoy Architects for client Chartered Land Ltd & Irish Life Assurance. Specialist Manufacturers: Fusion Glass Designs Ltd and Gillespie. Bespoke Lighting: Lighting Design House. Contractors G&T Crampton
2002 – 2004 GUNPOWDER PARK, WALTHAM ABBEY
*Winner – Urban Green Space – Street Design Awards 2006
‘Boom Bang Boom’
This integrated design team project involved the design of a significant and original art & ecology park landscape. The 90-hectare Brownfield site, formerly owned by Royal Ordnance plc was part of a much larger site, which for the previous 200 years, was associated with gunpowder manufacture, weapons, and propellants research. The artist brief required the creation of an interpretive design concept & arts strategy to inform the design process.
Commissioned by Lee Valley Regional Parks Authority and LDA Design. Consultants: Halcrow.
Specialist Contractors: Pallam Precast + Quality Marble Ltd
2001 – 2003 NESS POINT, LOWESTOFT
‘Scour’ is an environmental art & landscape concept complete with interrelated sculptures developed in creative collaboration with LDA Design. At the most easterly point of the British Isles, a 6m tall concrete water tower features a glass and steel canopy sculpture ‘Coastal Scour’ replete with a ‘First Light’ beacon, in-situ cast concrete viewing platforms, steps, and ramps. A ’Defence’ sculpture of 40 oak posts drifts north and south catching sand.
Commissioned by Commissions East for client Anglian Water. Landscape Architects: LDA Design.
Local Authority: Waveney District Council
2001 – 2004 FOUR PROJECTS FOR CHURCHILL HOSPITAL
*This project gained an ‘Environmental Award 2002’ from the Oxford Preservation Trust.
At Oxford Churchill Hospital, Tipping was commissioned on four interrelated site-specific projects collaborating with Oxford based Architects Grey Baynes and Shew on new build and refurbished Hospital buildings. The projects featured inlaid linoleum floors, bespoke terrazzo seating, architectural glass screens, photographic archive gallery and decorative door glazing
Commissioned by Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust and Architects Gray Baynes and Shew - Artist
1992 – 1998 THE BRIDLINGTON COASTAL REGENERATION PROJECT
*The Northforeshore scheme was awarded the 1996 Brick Award for Paving and Hard Landscape by the Brick Development Association.
*The Southside Bauman Lyons scheme won an RIBA award in 2000
Creative and thematic landscape and public realm, Tipping delivered original patterned paving finishes to 1km of the Northforeshore seafront promenades, including Beaconsfield, North Marine Drive, Alexandra Promenade, Victoria Terraces and Princes Parade. Over 500,000 polychrome, patterned clay paviors were used, along with fish-embossed brick and patterned retaining walls and seating.
Commissioned by Andrew Knight at Humberside Arts for client East Yorkshire Borough Counci. Specialist Manufacturers: Brockley’s Brick + Margaret Proudfoot
1990 QUEEN’S SUITE TERMINAL AT HEATHROW AIRPORT
Tipping created the bespoke stone floor for the main concourse entrance of the new Royal Suite with detailing in Portland Stone, Green Slate and Ulverstone Marble.
Commissioned by British Airports Authority and Michael Manser, Director Manser Associates
1987 WATERLOO UNDERGROUND STATION, LONDON
Tipping was asked to create artworks for four Bakerloo and Northern Line platforms at Waterloo Underground Station. This work featured monochrome patterned terrazzo platform paving and screen-printed figurative ceramic tile panels.
Commissioned by London Regional Transport
1986 ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, KENSINGTON GORE, LONDON
Commissioned by the Royal College of Art to create a bespoke ten-meter diameter celebratory entrance floor for the new Jay Mews entrance. The work features monochrome cut marble panels and bespoke in-situ terrazzo in various original colours and aggregate mixes devised in collaboration with the specialist manufacturers Diespeker.
Commissioned by the Royal College of Art Dept of Architecture. Specialist Contractor: Diespeker
