Chris May was born and raised in England on the Essex–North East London border, growing up during the 1960s in a large working-class family of 10, Surrounded by the humour, hardship, and close-knit character of everyday British life, Chris developed a deep affection for the small moments and ordinary scenes that shape community memory.
His first meaningful encounter with art came at sixteen, when his father bought him six tubes of oil paint and a pad of canvas paper…a simple gift that sparked a lifelong passion. Through his twenties and beyond, Chris painted intermittently while working various jobs, gradually shaping a visual language rooted in nostalgia, storytelling, and the spirit of working-class Britain.
In the early 2000s he became a member of the Association of British Naïve Artists in St Ives, exhibiting in group shows before selling work independently at Birmingham venues and directly to the public at Hyde Park Corner. Later, encouraged by a fellow artist, he pursued formal education, completing a foundation course in East London and earning a Fine Art scholarship and then a degree from Norwich University of the Arts in 2016.
Today, living overseas, Chris continues to develop a distinctive voice that blends narrative realism with the warmth and charm of his earlier naïve influences. His acrylic and watercolour paintings focus on the emotional resonance of British working-class heritage…corner shops, winter streets, factory towns, everyday rituals, and the quiet poetry of ordinary life.
His work invites viewers into shared memories of people, places, and moments often overlooked, offering authenticity, atmosphere, and a deep affection for the Britain he remembers.
Artist Statement: Preserving Memories Through Art
Chris’s work is dedicated to preserving the rich tapestry of British working-class life through evocative, story-driven scenes. Each painting aims to spark emotional connection…a sense of warmth, memory, and recognition, ensuring that the everyday stories of the past continue to resonate with future generations.
