Kristian Legg painter & children's book author / Illustrator

After 15 years of running a graphic design studio in Essex, I started painting in 2010.

I paint in a highly realistic style but my work is not Photorealist or Hyperrealist - unlike those genres my work does not seek to hide evidence of brush strokes - for me these 'visible footsteps' are desirable qualities in art, and in the flesh I like the movement of paint on a surface to tell it's own story - the evidence of the artist's hand can reveal in some way the decision making process of the painter and so add gravity to the work that takes high realism beyond mere demonstration of technique.
 
In portraiture I seek to create a sense of 'presence' in paint. This means the painting will have a human resonance that goes beyond replication of an expression or a mere 'likeness'. I want the drama of a face to be portrayed, in all it's intricacy.

Other subjects are varied, but chosen from complex scenes that pose artistic challenges in terms of lighting or requirement for high detail.

In 2024 I decided to revisit some of my earlier work in children's book Illustration - a simple digital style very different from my paintings.
 
2014 - Braintree Open Exhibition - 'Braintree Chamber of Trade & Commerce' award
2013 - Braintree Open Exhibition - 'Braintree Chamber of Trade & Commerce' award
2012 - Artists & Illustrators Artist of the Year Award finalist
2011 - Braintree Open Exhibition - 'Highly Commended' award