Christina's Biography

Christina Mingard paints the landscapes and gardens of the North of England, usually in vibrant acrylics. She works mainly in Northumbria, an area that has stunning countryside, beautiful coastlines and the world heritage site of Hadrian's Wall as sources of inspiration. As artist in Residence, she paints at the Village Bakery in Melmerby, Cumbria

Christina's career as a professional artist began with illustrations for books, often for education in Africa, but including children's stories and even television storyboards.

Painting was always a passion and once our children were at school, Christina began a painting course that she managed to keep up as the family moved around the country. When we finally settled in the village of Bardon Mill, Christina was so inspired by the view of the Tyne Valley that she began to paint it from the house.

She has exhibited all around the North of England and her work sells regularly on the Network Artists In Northumbria Art Tour.

All of Christina's paintings are done from life, which often means standing outside in all weathers trying to capture the changing light and weather in the hills around her. Painting is often accompanied by music, which tends to affect the finished work by altering the colour palette. Many a dark, grey scene has been transformed by Dvorak or Faure into a bright canvas as a result of their music being played across a windswept valley as Christina painted.

Christina loves to experiment and uses all sorts of materials and techniques to bring out something special from the landscape before her.

Last summer our daughter Catharine got married. We grew and arranged all the flowers for her wedding. Since then, Christina has been painting flowers from the garden placed in front of other landscapes. The results featured in her recent exhibition at The Village Bakery and will continue on the Art Tour this summer.