Chris Cross – Art, Metal & Woodwork

It truly takes a creative soul to recognise the value in everyday things we often toss away. Whether old, new, broken or used, everything can find new life in a beautiful art form. And this is what Chris Cross achieves through the creative process.

Chris Cross repurposes items into beautiful pieces that tell a story – mainly made of things found in the scrapyard or from broken antiques given a new lease on life.

We chatted to Chris about his passion for recycling goods and creating bespoke new items from metal and wood.

Tell us about your work…

Chris Cross was born in the first month of the Covid-19 lockdown. I had time, ideas and some stuff that I wanted to throw out from time to time…but never did.

I have always created since I can remember, whether it was with water paint, material, paper mache, wood, plastic, pencil & paper, camera… I love to create. My hands are there to work, make, form, as is my mind.

At Chris Cross we sell art and most of this art is all about reclaiming, upcycling and preserving – this has always been a part of me. We are really about once-off art projects. Almost all of our work is for sale. Those already sold will be mentioned as sold in their description.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I found some serious inspiration with a few people that dedicate their skill to reclaiming, people like: The Rag and Bone Man, Jay & Co, Sarah Moore, Rupert Blanchard, Bruce Faulseit Carpentry, Guy Trench, Zoe Murphy, Ptolemy Elrington, Smithers of Stamford and Gizmobots.

Why follow a creative passion like this?

Maybe I create art because I was created by the Artist of the universe and King David wrote something about me that I can never forget: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14.

I get my inspiration from anything and everything. Sometimes I will see something and just envision it in a different way or I will try to bend it in my mind so that it will grab the attention of the onlooker in a new way.

What sort of materials and media do you use most?

Metal and wood are for me like two opposites, and yet sometimes they belong together. I love to see other artists combine metal and wood. Sometimes I wish I can do what they can, but most of the time I am content with what I can create with what I know.

I like to create lamps because we are called to be a light to the world… so I like it when things shine!

With photography I also like to get close and personal, I can look at a flower… and then I look closer…it opens a whole new world.

Are you open to commissions and private projects?

Yes. You are welcome to contact us if you have a personal project or an old metal item with sentimental value that you want to make into something useful/arty. Let’s create together!

Find out more at Chris Cross.