Latest News
Graduate painter Chris Stone presents 'A Sense of Place' at the Brownston Gallery
Monday, 29 September, 2025 — Arts University Plymouth graduate Chris Stone presents 'A Sense of Place' at The Brownston Gallery, Modbury (4–18 October 2025), following his Brownston Fresh Talent Award win.
Award-winning Arts University Plymouth graduate Chris Stone will unveil his first solo exhibition, A Sense of Place, at The Brownston Gallery in Modbury from 4 to 18 October 2025.
<p>The show follows Chris’s success in receiving the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/chris-stone-wins-brownston-gallery-fresh-talent-award-2024">Brownston Fresh Talent Award 2024</a>, presented annually to a graduate demonstrating outstanding promise. The accolade is one of the South West’s most respected platforms for emerging artists, awarded by the <a href="http://www.brownstonart.com/">Brownston Gallery</a> after visiting Arts University Plymouth’s Graduate Shows.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Chris, who graduated in 2024 from <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking">BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking</a>, creates evocative mixed media paintings that explore Plymouth through its buildings, landscapes and hidden corners. His work captures the textures of everyday life alongside echoes of the city’s past.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Alongside depictions of Plymouth’s historic and industrial sites, the exhibition includes a new piece inspired by Modbury, reflecting Chris’s broader interest in the character of South West towns and communities.</p>
<p dir="ltr">When he first won the Fresh Talent Award, Chris said: “The Brownston Gallery has such a good reputation, so this award feels like a huge honour. I still can't believe I am the recipient. The competition was huge. Our degree course has produced such fabulous artists this year. As one of the older students on our course, it feels like an even bigger win somehow. Picking up this accolade hasn't really sunk in yet but I am looking forward to producing more work for the show. I will give it my absolute best!”</p>
Chris Stone's painting of Plymouth's Charles Cross Church
<p dir="ltr">Alison Mackenzie from the Brownston Gallery praised Chris’s work as “full of nostalgia and emotion,” describing how his compositions convey human presence through the man-made structures he paints.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The gallery has a strong relationship with Arts University Plymouth, supporting the careers of graduates including Julie Ellis and Jo Haskins.<br /></p>
Chris Stone with his painting of Plymouth Hoe
<p dir="ltr">Chris honed his practice on Arts University Plymouth’s BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking degree, a course designed to immerse students in traditional and contemporary techniques while developing a distinct artistic voice.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Students on the course are taught by practising artists in spacious studios designed to encourage ambitious practice. Public exhibitions, live briefs and collaborations with leading galleries are embedded into the experience, helping graduates establish themselves as professional artists.</p>
<p>Arts University Plymouth has been recognised as the <strong>top-scoring specialist arts university in the UK for student satisfaction for four consecutive years (National Student Survey 2022–2025)</strong>, making it a supportive and inspiring place to study.</p>
Chris Stone's bandstand painting (2024)
<p><em>A Sense of Place</em> runs at The Brownston Gallery, Modbury, from 4 to 18 October 2025. <br />The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–5pm. </p>
<p>More information: <a href="http://www.brownstonart.com">brownstonart.com</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Like Chris, you’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your work, connect with leading galleries, and grow as a professional artist.</p>
<p>Find out more and apply for <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking">BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking</a></p>
