Chris Forrest, American

Born. Trenton, New Jersey, 1946

Interested in art from the age of 7, Christopher Forrest still speaks fondly of a set of colored pencils presented to him then by his parents; At 11, he won his first award for painting and started exhibiting in galleries. 

Along with his interest in art grew a keen attraction for the outdoors and the wildlife which thrived there. 

After considering schooling in art, Chris chose to study civil engineering. 

Upon graduation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Chris began a career as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. 

The Army provided Chris the opportunity to observe wildlife from the swamps of Florida to the lakes of Quebec, in addition to Europe and Vietnam. 

In 1973, the Army sent Chris to graduate school at North Carolina State University, at this time Chris started to paint wildlife.

Chris resigned from the Army in 1978 and took a position as an artist with Evergreen Publishing Co. 

He has produced more than thirty original graphic editions for Evergreen. His original graphics are handled by some 350 galleries in North America. 

He is currently General Manager at Evergreen. His work and articles about his work have appeared in numerous wildlife and art publications. 

Chris strongly believes in wildlife conservation and is a member of many conservationist organizations. 

His donated prints have raised a great deal of money for Ducks Unlimited, Newjersey, Audubon and Ward Foundations. In 1980 he realized one of his major professional goals. 

He was elected to membership in the Society of Animal Artists. "Creating a painting or graphic is an exciting adventure and challenge for me. 

Starting with the observation of the animal in the wilderness, I then approach the painting with the attitude that it will be my finest work.