{{Short description|Gibraltarian artist (born 1971)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}} {{Infobox artist | name = Christian Hook | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1971 | birth_place = Gibraltar | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | field = | training = Illustration, Middlesex University | movement = Contemporary Figurative Art | works = | patrons = | awards = | elected = | website = {{URL|christianhook.com}} | bgcolour = }} '''Christian Hook''' (born 1971) is a Gibraltarian contemporary artist.<ref name = Hook>{{cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/gibraltar/articles/exploring-the-art-of-gibraltar-an-interview-with-christian-hook/|title=Exploring the Art of Gibraltar: An Interview with Christian Hook|date=29 April 2013|publisher=Culture Trip|accessdate=16 November 2018}}</ref>

Hook was born in Gibraltar in 1971. He studied illustration at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom, and then worked as a part-time lecturer at the Royal College of Art in London.<ref name = Hook/>

In 2014 he won the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year contest with a portfolio of work completed during the competition including portraits of boxer Amir Khan and actor Sir Ian McKellen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skygroup.sky/article/christian-hook-named-sky-arts-portrait-artist-of-the-year-2014|title=Christian Hook named Sky Arts Portrait Artist of The Year 2014|website=Sky Group|language=en|access-date=27 January 2026}}</ref> A resulting commission was to paint a portrait of Alan Cumming for the National Galleries of Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/artists/christian-hook | title = Christian Hook| publisher= National Galleries of Scotland}}</ref> The painting was later chosen by John Leighton, director of the National Galleries of Scotland, as one of the best 100 paintings in its collection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13215308.Revealed__The_100_greatest_masterpieces_in_Scotland_s_national_galleries__according_to_its_director/|title=Revealed: The 100 greatest masterpieces in Scotland's national galleries, according to its director|website=HeraldScotland|date=26 May 2015 |language=en|access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref>

Hook has also painted Kristin Scott Thomas<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://howtospendit.ft.com/christian-hook |title=A profile of the artist Christian Hook, co-star of our Kristin Scott Thomas fashion shoot |publisher='How to Spend It', Financial Times|date=17 February 2017 |accessdate=7 July 2018}}</ref>. He was awarded the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://chronicle.gi/2017/06/parliament-approves-hooks-freedom-of-the-city/|title=Parliament approves Hook's Freedom of the City {{!}} Gibraltar Chronicle|access-date=25 August 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2018, Hook released his ‘KI’ series, a collection of large-scale oil paintings inspired by his travels around Japan, focusing mainly on the ancient traditions of calligraphy and 'Chi'.<ref>{{cite web|author=Longabaugh, AJ|url=https://vman.com/article/christian-hook-has-found-his-ki/ |title=Christian Hook has found his Ki |publisher=VMan |date=31 May 2018|accessdate=7 July 2018}}</ref>

Hook was the keynote speaker at Althorp Literary Festival 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.countryandtownhouse.co.uk/culture/news-althorp-literary-festival-tickets-lineup/ |title= 2018 Althorp Literary Festival Line-Up Released|publisher=Country & Townhouse |date=3 Oct 2018}}</ref>

Over the course of 2020 and 2021, Christian has been filming a Sky Arts documentary entitled 'Painting the Invisible'. The documentary will focus on Hook's new series of work which explores the concept of synaesthesia, and features several Nobel Prize winning scientists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digiguide.tv/programme/Documentary/Christian-Hook-Painting-the-Invisible/1397067/|title=Christian Hook Sky Arts Documentary|website=Digi Guide|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927155515/https://digiguide.tv/programme/Documentary/Christian-Hook-Painting-the-Invisible/1397067/ |archive-date=27 September 2021 |access-date=27 Sep 2021}}</ref>

Christian Hook works as a full time artist, creating paintings “depicting motion, time and the moments that occur between events.” Christian has created paintings of celebrities, historical landmarks, and horses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.equineinfoexchange.com/index.php/recreation-lifestyle/1177-christian-hook-painting-the-essence-of-time|title=Christian Hook: Painting The Essence of Time|last=Beth|first=Shya|date=3 March 2020|website=Equine Info Exchange|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325154410/https://www.equineinfoexchange.com/index.php/recreation-lifestyle/1177-christian-hook-painting-the-essence-of-time |archive-date=25 March 2020 |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref>

==Selected Major Commissions/Portraits== Hook has been commissioned by and produced portraits for figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, Sarah Ferguson, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Sir Ian McKellen, Amir Khan, Mick Hucknall, Kristin Scott Thomas and Sue Johnson, among many others.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://christianhook.com/bio/ |title=Christian Hook - Bio |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref>

*2020 - Portrait of Sir Richard Branson<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chronicle.gi/hook-meets-branson/ |title=Hook To Paint Branson |publisher=Gibraltar Chronicle|date=2019-07-31 |accessdate=2021-09-27}}</ref> *2017 - 2 hour Live painting of Kristin Scott Thomas for cover of Financial Times ‘How to spend It magazine’ - Paris <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://howtospendit.ft.com/christian-hook |title=A profile of the artist Christian Hook, co-star of our Kristin Scott Thomas fashion shoot |publisher='How to Spend It', Financial Times|date=2017-02-17 |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref> *2017 - Live painting of ShiLai Liu, Chinese Entrepreneur *2016 - 2 hour live painting of the Maharaja of Jodhpur - India <ref>{{cite web |url=https://christianhook.com/bio/ |title=Christian Hook - Bio |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref> *2016 - 2 hour live painting of Joan Bakewell for Sky Arts Awards <ref>{{cite web |url=https://cassart.co.uk/blog/sky_arts_portrait_2016.htm |title=PAST EVENT: Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year|publisher= Cass Arts - Blog |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref> *2016 - 2 hour live painting of British Actor Simon Callow *2014 - Portrait of Amir Khan (world champion boxer), Bolton Museum, Permanent Collection *2014 - Portrait of Alan Cumming (Actor), Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Permanent Collection<ref>{{cite web |url= http://alancumming.com/blog/2015/1/3/exeeyzyagjwu1dq63wcj6dlw9d5n0d |title= Portrait of me by Christian Hook |date= 3 January 2015 |publisher=Alan Cumming Blog |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Ferguson, Brian|url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/film/portrait-artist-of-the-year-honours-alan-cumming-1-3642971 |title= Portrait Artist of the Year honours Alan Cumming |publisher=The Scotsman|accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref> *2014 - Portrait of Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York) *2014 - Portrait of Sir Ian McKellen<ref>{{cite web|author= Chaudari, Saiqa |url=http://theboltonnews.co.uk/news/11697456.Actor_Sir_Ian_McKellen_finds_himself_in_the_frame/|title=Actor Sir Ian McKellen finds himself in the frame |date=January 2015 |publisher=Bolton News|accessdate=2018-07-06}}</ref>

==Awards== In the course of his career Hook has won several awards, including the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2014 (in a presentation held at the National Portrait Gallery, London), and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar in 2017. His artwork was chosen by Sir John Leighton from 100,000 works as one of the ‘100 Masterpieces’ from the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.clarendonfineart.com/news/reader/christian-hook-portrait-cited-as-a-masterpiece |title=Christian Hook Portrait Cited as a 'Masterpiece' |accessdate=2018-08-08}}</ref> alongside pieces by Botticelli, Rembrandt and Matisse.

*2017 - Awarded 'Freedom of the city Gibraltar'<ref>{{cite web |url=https://christianhook.com/bio/ |title=Christian Hook - Bio |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref> *2015 - 'Honey Jar' - Portrait of Alan Cumming selected by Lord Leighton as one of the 100 masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.clarendonfineart.com/news/reader/christian-hook-portrait-cited-as-a-masterpiece |title=Christian Hook Portrait Cited as a 'Masterpiece' |accessdate=2018-08-08}}</ref> *2014 - Winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist Of The Year – UK<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cassart.co.uk/blog/sky_arts_portrait_2016.htm |title=PAST EVENT: Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year|publisher= Cass Arts - Blog |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref> *1991 - Kate Parker Life Drawing Award – London<ref>{{cite web |url=https://christianhook.com/bio/ |title=Christian Hook - Bio |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref>

==Public Collections== Christian’s work is included in numerous significant public and private collections, including but not limited to:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://christianhook.com/bio/ |title=Christian Hook - Bio |accessdate=2018-07-07}}</ref>

*Royal Collection *Scottish National Portrait Gallery *Bolton Museum *Museum of Liverpool *Gibraltar Museum

==References== {{reflist}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hook, Christian}} Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:British contemporary artists Category:Date of birth missing (living people) Category:Academics of the Royal College of Art Category:Alumni of Middlesex University Category:Gibraltarian artists