Biography

Christopher John Ball BA (Hon's) MA is a widely exhibited and published, award winning, London based, fine arts photographer, playwright, writer and lecturer. With over 30 years experience as a photographer - his work is in public and private collections worldwide and he is, together with Paul Woods, a co-founder of the The Association of Erotic Artists. He has contributed articles on photography for various publications and has acted as an external moderator for several photographic courses in London. His images have been showcased in Italian, German, Spanish, Hong Kong SAR, British and mainland Chinese publications and also displayed within the pages of several respected online galleries. He has also been interviewed, and filmed at work, for Television programmes that have been transmitted in Europe, the USA and Great Britain.

Christopher was selected as a juror for both the 2008/09 'Erotic Signature' annual international arts competition and the 'Erotic Review Photographer of the Year Prize 2009.' He recently had work on show at the 'Erotic Heritage Museum' in Las Vegas, USA, the 'ArtBay Gallery' in Stoke on Trent, UK and the 'She Said' Gallery, Brighton, UK, Milton Keynes, UK and various London venues including 'The Trocadero' and 'Olympia'. Chris has more exhibitions, projects and publications planned for 2010.

After several years within a commercial photographic background, including running his own studio, Chris became more interested in using photography as a fine arts medium and, along with exploring its role within 'community arts' and education, this is now the direction his work takes him. Drawing inspiration from philosophy, film and music, Chris believes that how we see ourselves, and how we are objectified by the camera, is an existential rationale and his work is an attempt to explore this belief. Given that he is also a writer, and because he sees in photography a strong link to literature, it should come as no surprise to find that his photographs are often made to work in series so as to create a visual narrative. Rarely working from studios - the choice of everyday locations for his photographs is a deliberate intent to emphasise a mundane theatricality. In addition he often uses non-conventional photographic equipment - such as pin-hole, Holga, Diana, home-made, adapted and vintage cameras - and alternative photographic processes, such as the cyanotype, to create a specific aesthetic.

"...sensual nudes that pay homage to the female form in a manner that is both graceful and elegant. Very rarely do we come across a portfolio that strikes us so deeply..." - The New Nude Magazine

Christopher also acts as a fine art/photography advisor, international photographic competition juror, portfolio consultant and exhibition curator. He has experience in facilitating and advising on art based/lifestyle TV programming - in particular fine art photography and erotic arts. In addition to his fine art work Chris has also produced several photographic projects of a socio-documentary nature that have attracted Arts Council funding.

In addition to his teaching and photographic work; Chris also works in film and theatre. ''Throwing Stones'' was co-written by Christopher John Ball and Dean Sipling. 'Throwing Stones' is to be published in 2010 and the pair are at work on several new projects.

“Mid-life male photographer meets young, nubile female student-cum-artistic muse - so far its old hat. But photographer turned playwright Christopher John Ball and co-writer Dean Sipling, whose background is film and television, bring the pairing into a thoroughly contemporary world of intercepted emails, sinister insinuation and sharp retorts. Their ‘guilty until proved innocent’ plot ... is thoroughly watchable and believable - perhaps as a result of Ball’s professional insights and DS Dom Lucas’ services as police advisor to the production.” - Barbara Lewis – The Stage