The British Bulldog by Chess

“Original artwork collage uses genuine vintage sections of the Collins Complete Guide to British Wildlife – N.Arlott, R.Fitter, A.Fitter – HarperCollins 1994”

Chess is a mixed media artist based in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Her work firmly roots the iconic figures that she paints in their context, incorporating original newspaper clippings from throughout their lives and legacies.

The textual element of her work brings together the love of reading and writing that she explored through her English degree and Creative Writing Masters with her love of painting and creating.

The finished pieces, as well as being detailed portraits, have the added dimension of the stories that are attached to them.

The Bulldog, also known as the British The British BulldogBulldog or English Bulldog, is a medium-sized dog breed. It is a muscular, hefty dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose. The Kennel Club (UK), the American Kennel Club (US), and the United Kennel Club (US) oversee breeding records. Bulldogs are popular pets; they were the fifth most popular purebreed in the US in 2017 according to the American Kennel Club.

Bulldogs have a longstanding association with English culture, as the BBC wrote: “to many the Bulldog is a national icon, symbolising pluck and determination.” During World War II, Bulldogs were often likened to Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his defiance of Nazi Germany. When the English settled in the Americas, their Bulldogs came with them. Dedicated bulldog fanciers formed The Bulldog Club (England) in 1878, and the Bulldog Club of America in 1890.