Britain's Best Young Artist Chloe Chidume

In the grand final of ‘Britain’s Best Young Artist’ three finalists each had a masterclass with a professional artist to help refine the skills, before returning to the studio to create their final work. The winner, Chloe Chidume, was selected by judges Sadie Clayton, Ricky Martin, and Tate's Director of Learning, Mark Miller.

In speaking about her artwork, Chloe says: 'My painting is about my appreciation of my home, not only my home in the UK but my home in Africa, and how I cherish the memories that are enclosed in the four walls I inhabit daily. It’s about the beauty of the mundane and how something so ordinary can mean so much to someone.'

Q&A with Chloe Chidume

What inspired you?

I looked back on old family photos and I noticed a pattern that most of the photos weren’t taken in somewhere lavish, but the comfort of my own home. That’s when I thought of the importance of home. Who is my home? Where is it? What do I feel?

How did you make it?

I almost always do an underpainting of some kind. When using coloured pencil I always have a marker base so it’s slightly easier to layer – that’s how I do the skin. The background is just acrylic paint, and I sowed some African fabric to the paper using a needle and thread. To add a childlike element, I also included cartoon versions of my drawings.

How does it make you feel to have your painting displayed at Tate Modern?

It’s honestly a dream of mine! One of my goals was to have my work shown somewhere and I’m grateful so many people get to see my work and interpret it how they want to. That’s the beauty of art and what I enjoy the most.

What do you want other people to feel when they see your painting?

I hope people relate to my art and to be honest, I don’t want everyone to feel the same looking at it. I want them to view my work and my vision how they see fit, because my interpretation does not have to be theirs. There is no right or wrong answer to what home means to somebody.

What does it mean to you to win Britain’s Best Young Artist?

Winning Britain’s Best Young Artist is a stepping stone to me achieving my dreams. I want to be able to paint for a living and I think that winning this competition could open doors for me and I hope that it does. I will always love the BBYA experience and I thank all of my friends I competed alongside for making the journey that much more enjoyable. BBYA was just the beginning and I hope there’s more where that came from. And I guess that makes me Britain’s Best Young Artist!