Christopher Madden works in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, animation and video, creating work that is often abstract or is drawn from his imagination.
His work is informed by a keen interest in philosophy, politics, environmental issues, science, the human condition and humour.
Some of it is profound, some humorous, some both, some neither.
Exhibitions include:
- Wells Art Contemporary, Wells Cathedral (2025)
- One New Street Gallery, Herne Bay (2025)
- Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (2025)
- Royal West of England Academy, Bristol (2025)
- ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London (2024)
- Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (2024)
- Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (2023)
- Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Cornwall (Solo show) (2022)
- Shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (2022)
- Penwith Gallery, St Ives (2020)
- London Group Open, London (2019)
- London Group Open, London (2017)
- National Open Art Exhibition, London (2016)
- Shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (2016)
- Centerprise, Kingsland High Street, London (1985)
- Centerprise, Kingsland High Street, London (1982)
His cartoon work has featured in exhibitions including:
- One New Street Gallery, Herne Bay (2025)
- Maison Bertaux, Soho, London (2024)
- Charing Cross Library, Charing Cross Road, London (2023)
- Musée d’Orsay, Paris, in a presentation/performance by Isabella Rossellini (2021)
- Oxo Tower, London (2021)
- Cells Gallery, Devonport Guildhall,Plymouth (2018)
- Charing Cross Library, Charing Cross Road, London (2018)
- Bear Steps Gallery, Shrewsbury (2018)
- Westminster Reference Library, Westminster, London (2017)
- William Heath Robinson Museum, Pinner, London (2017)
- Chris Beetles Gallery, London (2016)
- Cartoon Museum, London (2015)
- Cobb Gallery, London (2014)
- Richard Goodall Gallery, Manchester (2013)
- Bear Steps Gallery, Shrewsbury (2013)
- Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester (2008)
- Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (2008)
- Bear Steps Gallery, Shrewsbury (2008)
- Cartoon Museum, London (2006)
- Association of Illustrators annual exhibition, London (1987)
- Association of Illustrators annual exhibition, London (1986)
Biography
Christopher Madden was born in 1952 in Durham in the north of England where his mother’s family was part of the coal mining community (See the photos below). His father, who was Irish, repaired aircraft for the Ministry of Defence.
After spending several years in the UK’s Scientific Civil Service working on the development stage of the Thames Barrier he left to become a professional cartoonist (See details below).
He is now concentrating on his work in other artistic fields.
He lives in London.
About his cartoon work
His interest in the environment, which started in his teens in the late 1960s, resulted in a book of his cartoons on the subject, When Humans Roamed the Earth, being published by WWF (the World Wildlife Fund) in 1991, and another book, The Beast That Ate The Earth, being published in 1996.
He worked as a cartoonist and illustrator for the Guardian newspaper in the 1980s and 1990s and for BBC science magazines in the 2000s. At various times he has been a resident cartoonist in Philosophy Now magazine, the journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Irish Sunday Independent newspaper.
His work has been published by academic publishers such as Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Open University Press and Nature and in magazines and newspapers including Punch, Private Eye, Prospect, the Spectator, the Critic, New Statesman and Daily Telegraph.
Some of his cartoon work is in the permanent collection of the Cartoon Museum, London
A selection of his cartoon work can be seen here.
