Local Artist's Viral Hit Inspires International Attention
At 88 years old and with progressive memory loss, Christine Hazell was just starting out as an artist. However, her new hobby has captured the hearts of many, including art curator Matthew Higgs - her own son. Higgs discovered his mother's talent for drawing while browsing through coloured pencils and pads left behind by her children in her 17th-century terraced cottage.
According to Gaby Higgs, Christine's sister, who is based between London and York, the initial idea of getting Christine involved with art was born when Gaby stumbled upon the abandoned materials. Initially, she suggested that Christine try copying family photos, which resulted in a series of captivating portraits showcasing the faces of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even their beloved dog, Kizzy.
As Christine's passion for drawing grew, so did the number of new drawings produced every day. Matthew Higgs, who is also an art curator, director, and chief curator at New York-based White Columns, witnessed his mother's artistic transformation firsthand. Taking a keen interest in her work, he began sharing the portraits on social media platforms, including Instagram, where they quickly garnered widespread attention.
The interest from fellow art enthusiasts and critics has been immense, with Tracey Emin praising Christine's talent as saying, "Something so good going on here, and shows it's never too late." The drawings have also sparked collaborations between UK gallerists, who are eager to showcase Christine's work in upcoming exhibitions. These include Partisan in York, showcasing her first 24 subjects from across Yorkshire under the title 'Different Faces'. Another exhibition is scheduled for London's Studio Voltaire in July.
Christine's art has also resonated with outsider art galleries, including East Yorkshire's Blacksmith's Shop, where Mark Ibson will be featuring her work in an upcoming summer show. For Matthew Higgs, Christine's artistic journey vindicates the idea that everyone possesses inherent creativity, provided they are given the time and encouragement to explore it.
Since her discovery on social media, Christine Hazell has been creating more than 200 drawings, each one showcasing a different face from her loved ones. With her growing confidence in editing photos into captivating drawings, the artistic world has been enriched by this remarkable woman's talents, proving that age is just a number when it comes to creative expression.
At 88 years old and with progressive memory loss, Christine Hazell was just starting out as an artist. However, her new hobby has captured the hearts of many, including art curator Matthew Higgs - her own son. Higgs discovered his mother's talent for drawing while browsing through coloured pencils and pads left behind by her children in her 17th-century terraced cottage.
According to Gaby Higgs, Christine's sister, who is based between London and York, the initial idea of getting Christine involved with art was born when Gaby stumbled upon the abandoned materials. Initially, she suggested that Christine try copying family photos, which resulted in a series of captivating portraits showcasing the faces of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even their beloved dog, Kizzy.
As Christine's passion for drawing grew, so did the number of new drawings produced every day. Matthew Higgs, who is also an art curator, director, and chief curator at New York-based White Columns, witnessed his mother's artistic transformation firsthand. Taking a keen interest in her work, he began sharing the portraits on social media platforms, including Instagram, where they quickly garnered widespread attention.
The interest from fellow art enthusiasts and critics has been immense, with Tracey Emin praising Christine's talent as saying, "Something so good going on here, and shows it's never too late." The drawings have also sparked collaborations between UK gallerists, who are eager to showcase Christine's work in upcoming exhibitions. These include Partisan in York, showcasing her first 24 subjects from across Yorkshire under the title 'Different Faces'. Another exhibition is scheduled for London's Studio Voltaire in July.
Christine's art has also resonated with outsider art galleries, including East Yorkshire's Blacksmith's Shop, where Mark Ibson will be featuring her work in an upcoming summer show. For Matthew Higgs, Christine's artistic journey vindicates the idea that everyone possesses inherent creativity, provided they are given the time and encouragement to explore it.
Since her discovery on social media, Christine Hazell has been creating more than 200 drawings, each one showcasing a different face from her loved ones. With her growing confidence in editing photos into captivating drawings, the artistic world has been enriched by this remarkable woman's talents, proving that age is just a number when it comes to creative expression.
I was like that with playing guitar, took me forever to get good at it but once I did, man... the confidence booster was huge! Christine's story reminds me of my own grandma who used to paint beautiful watercolors when she was in her 60s. She stopped after my grandpa passed away and only picked up a brush again a few years ago. Now she's selling her art at local exhibitions 
. It just goes to show that age is not a barrier to creativity, and I think it's amazing how Christine's passion has taken off like wildfire! Her portraits are so sweet, I'm sure they bring tears to people's eyes every time 
.
! I mean, who wouldn't want to discover their hidden talent at 88 years old? It's like, our school's art teacher always says, "Age is just a number, and creativity knows no bounds." 
This woman is proof that you're never too old to try something new. And her drawings are literally the cutest things I've ever seen 
! I wish my mum had discovered her artistic side when she was younger... but I'm glad she found it now. It's amazing how social media can help us discover people's talents and passions online. Now, I'm totally going to look into some art classes at school so I can learn more about drawing too 
88 yr old woman starts drawin like nobody's biz and now her art is gettin famous worldwide 
she's even got a son who's an art curator who help her get discovered on instagram 
meanwhile some ppl are sayin age is just a number when it comes to bein creative 
like yeah no kidding right? 
anywaa, now she's makin money and gettin exhibitions 
can't wait 2 c what other crazy stuff happens 2 this lady 
. like 88 years old and struggling with memory loss, yet somehow she managed to find her "talent" by copying family photos 
.
It's like proof that creativity knows no bounds, you know? Age is just a number, and this lady's passion for drawing has inspired so many people around the world. I mean, her son Matthew shared some of her work on Instagram, and suddenly she's got art curators, critics, and galleries clamoring to showcase her stuff 
! And let's not forget that Tracey Emin gave her a shoutout - that's like, major recognition for anyone in the art world. The thing I love most about this story is that it shows you're never too old to try something new and find your passion. It's like Christine found her tribe, and now she's inspiring others to do the same 
.
She's proof that you're never too old to discover your hidden talent and make people smile with your art 
And it's not just her family who think so - art critics like Tracey Emin are giving her serious props too 
. It just goes to show that with a bit of encouragement, we can all tap into our creative potential - age is just a number when it comes to making art 
. Can't wait to see more of her art in exhibitions 
.
. It's a reminder that everyone has something unique to offer, regardless of their age or background – all it takes is a little nudge to let them shine 
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. And Matthew Higgs, her son, has been a huge supporter - it's lovely to see family love leading to artistic collaborations 
. This just shows that age is just a number and that everyone deserves a second (or third, or fourth) chance to shine 
she was like totally starting out as an artist but her son discovered her talent and now shes making waves on the art scene 
and its not just that she's good she's also got ppl like tracey emin raving about her work 
anyway, im so here for this story it shows that u can start anything anytime in life and still make a difference 
i mean, my grandma was always good at drawing but never thought she'd be famous or anything 
? I mean, she had no idea she was good at drawing till her son discovered the coloured pencils and pads in her house and started sharing them online...