Painter who did a foundation course at Berkshire College of Art and Design, Maidenhead, 1989–90; then graduated with first-class honours, specialising in painting, from De Montfort University, Leicester, 1990–3; with a postgraduate diploma in painting from Royal Academy Schools, 1994–7. Awards included the David Murray Studentship Award for Landscape Painting, 1992 and 1996; Jack Goldhill Scholarship for painting, Royal Academy Schools, 1994–7; and Young Artist of the Year, Hunting Art Prizes, Royal College of Art and Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, Turner Gold Medal for painting, Premiums Exhibition at RA, and Cromwell Hospital Award, all 1997. Chris Farrell had a varied career, including a commission to produce a watercolour based on a sea theme for Chevron’s 1997 calendar; being artist-in-residence, London Business School Regent’s Park, and producing a painting for Ove Arup/Contemporary Art Society Projects, both 1997–8; as well as private commissions and extensive website designing, from 1999.