Chris Myers
Biography
Chris Myers was born in London and studied at Maidstone College of Art. Following a successful career in London as the co-founder of a design agency, he now works from his studio in East Sussex as a painter and illustrator, using watercolour as his primary medium.
His wide range of subject matter reflects his background as a commercial illustrator, with classic cars, travel and music among the inspirations for his work. People feature in much of his painting. He has won several awards, including the Cityscape Award in the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition. His work has been featured in Octane, Classic and Sports Car, The Artist, Watercolour Artist and The Art of Watercolour. He became a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 2006.
Artist Statement
Chris Myers’s experience as President of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours from 2022 to 2025 led him to reflect on the continuing role of watercolour and water-based media in contemporary art. He considers one of the challenges facing traditional arts to be the profound changes in technology and the abundance of digital means of expression.
For Myers, however, this makes watercolour even more valuable: its ability to offer a direct and personal means of expression using little more than paper, a brush, a small paintbox and water. He sees continuing enthusiasm for watercolour among younger artists and believes the RI should remain adaptable and accepting of unconventional approaches to water-based media.
His experience as President also encouraged him to consider recent developments in water-based media techniques, which may influence his own approach to painting in the future.