Chris Bacon: developing a vision on the art of painting birds
Retrospective: this post was originally published at our Wine and Leisure site approximately 2006. You’ll find an update at the bottom of this page.
By A. SINGER
associate editor
Chris Bacon has much to say on the artistic world, and his merit as an artist calls us to listen. Few painters can achieve the acute detail and realism of their subjects while sensitively combining emotion and energy in the work. Indeed, few artists so concentrate their scope on one particular subject as he does; almost every time he picks up his brush, it is in appreciation of one animal: the bird. His admiration for these creatures does not seem unusual once one has met him, as Bacon shows himself to be an artist with an understanding of the sensitive and minute. The painter recently spoke of his artistic history with as much intricate detail and creativity as he puts into his art – a painting of words, spoken softly through a slight British accent.
Chris Bacon was born in Watford, England, just two weeks before his father moved the family to Ascension Island for business. Several moves succeeded this, to locations such as Fiji, Bermuda, and Canada when Bacon was a young teenager. He became interested in art at an early age, perhaps inspired by the beautiful places of his youth. Bacon also gives credit to his father and grandfather, who, despite artistic leanings, were not able to pursue art. Nevertheless, they steadily encouraged Bacon in his craft: “My father and I used to have little painting contests … out of National Geographic … and I said [to myself] I wanted to paint better than him one day.” It is noteworthy that Bacon expressed a fascination with birds from the beginning, which is evident from the artwork his mother saved from the early days. Indeed, these drawings of storks and warblers demonstrate an unusual amount of talent for a toddler-aged boy.
The artist describes in detail the experience of creating his first painting as though it were days ago: “We lived in the garden of England, in Kent, nestled in the North Downs … my buddies and I used to ride around the hills on our bikes with our shovels and uncover items from the war.” During one of these trips, eleven-year-old Chris sat up by the chalky cliffs, looking down on a group of swallows that had landed. As a child, Bacon had aspired to be a pilot but was prevented from pursuing the career as he has never been able to see out of his left eye. He knew that the wing of the iconic Spitfire was designed after the swallow’s wing. Recognizing the vision of the scene below him, he produced an aerial-view painting.
Speaking with Bacon, it is clear that he has awareness of his artistic past, present and future. Self-assurance comes through his gentle voice as he continues in his elaborate but fascinating history. He speaks affectionately of his “Granddad,” who, after viewing Chris’ first painting, eagerly bestowed his own paints and brushes to his grandson. Perhaps his grandfather felt that Chris would be able to accomplish something as an artist he was never able to.
In Canada, Bacon’s high school art teacher, Finn Mackenzie, recognized his student’s talent and encouraged him to get his work photographed. Mackenzie also mentioned another teacher whom Chris might be interested in meeting: Robert Bateman. Bacon recounts the first meeting between the veteran painter and himself as a learning experience: “Bob [Bateman] looked at my paintings and sort of criticized them, and invited my father and me over. Bob said if I wanted to continue painting birds, I better learn to paint them properly and do fieldwork.” Desiring to hone his skill, Chris began fieldwork shortly after. During this time of intensive self-training, Bacon reveals a surprise: “I spent so much time on the paintings that I failed high school … I failed art actually.” This circumstance certainly did not mirror the success of his artistic pursuits.
“I did have enough paintings by the time I was eighteen to walk into a gallery,” Bacon says, referring to the former Alice Peck Gallery in Burlington. “[They] agreed to have the first show. By this point I had turned nineteen and had twenty-two paintings. They sold out in about three minutes.” For the first few moments of the show, Chris sat in his car outside of the gallery. “There I was looking at this line-up and thinking there must be some mistake, there must be something else going on. By the time I got into the gallery, I was going up the stairs and a friend said to me, ‘There’s one painting left.’ The guy on the stairs behind me said, ‘I’ll take it!’” Following this success, Beckett Fine Art in Hamilton invited him to have his second show at their gallery.
Considering this series of events, it is apparent that becoming an artist was a process: “There was never any conscious decision [to become an artist] until I did my first show and I had to decide: Was I going to do this for a living?”
When questioned further on the artistic process, Chris launches into an equally interesting narrative. He is obviously passionate about the subject, his voice ascending every now and then into quiet excitement: “I learned back then I had to develop a code, or a vision, or personal philosophy. I needed to be more disciplined, and as un-influenced by everyone else as possible.” He elaborates: “I had had no formal training, I didn’t know what composition or colour was. So I explored them. It has been like a series of zigzags, trying to apply what I’ve learned.”
Bacon describes constant study as a requirement for any artist: “The moment you think you have mastered everything, you start to stagnate.” When I voice my agreement and mention the need for humility in one’s craft, as in my writing, he elaborates: “Always be humbled. I’m humbled every time I walk into a museum.” Referring to the intimidating masterpieces often found in art museums, he remarks, “You’ve really got to give it everything to put a scratch in the surface.”
Bacon mainly works in his studio, venturing frequently into the outdoors for fieldwork. Yet he does not “go into the field blindly,” but rather begins with a vision: “Early in the morning I’ll be semi-consciously dreaming of something, an idea that I have to record. They are like little thumbnails.” These thumbnail ideas are usually what he will elaborate on later, whether in the studio or in the field. “Rarely when you go out looking for something, do you find it. Then there are pleasant little surprises, and you have to shift your focus to that. But there is an order [to it]. I can sit a whole day, watching and waiting for things to happen … it’s a kind of solitary pursuit.”
This artist with a strong sense of creative integrity reflects a moment on his history. “It was a series of mini pivotal moments.” He pauses, then adds, “It was like the natural course of things,” as if struck by the influence of nature on his life. The natural and artistic worlds can certainly do with more Chris Bacons to represent them.
Visit his site: https://chrisbacon.com
© Words by A. Singer Bacon
© Photos copyright Chris Bacon
Update: May 11, 2025
Chris Bacon went to be with his Lord on March 27, 2026. A few thoughts and a few memories …
“Chris was admired around the world for his masterful fine art, his remarkable eye for nature, and his gentle spirit. His work remains an enduring legacy of beauty, stillness, and wonder.” – A. Singer Bacon
“Chris was a ray of sunshine in our family. I had the honour of representing him and his work at Beckett Fine Art in Toronto and Oakville. We fell in love with his paintings and he fell in love with our daughter, Ashley! It was mutual and theirs is a true love story.
The years with Chris as a member of our family have been precious. His kind, loyal and positive demeanor have been such a blessing to us all. We miss him dearly and grieve this loss greatly. Life will not be the same without him.
I can picture the smile on his face when he greets us some day and introduces us to a more perfect and beautiful place in eternity. Paint brush in hand, scoping out new subjects to paint and experiencing far more joy than we can imagine now.
We wound up purchasing “Flotilla” (one of the 3 paintings in the article). It’s among the most beautiful paintings we’ve ever laid eyes on. It graces our living room.
In the meantime we cherish the times we’ve shared with Chris. Family get-togethers, art gallery events, travel, music and laughter. It brings me comfort to know that we will pick up again where we left off some day.” – Hilde Singer.
Editor’s Note
Chris Bacon’s art and legacy continue. His beautiful paintings are in the collections of galleries and fine art collectors around the world. His masterful visual interpretations of nature continue to inspire and will do so for all time.
– P. Singer (The Wine Baron)
