Chris Dunn

Chris Dunn is a British artist and illustrator best known for his richly detailed watercolour paintings inspired by classic storytelling, wildlife, and the natural world. Based in Wiltshire, Dunn studied illustration at Bath Spa University, graduating in 2008 before beginning his career as a freelance illustrator working on editorial commissions and portrait work. 

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Early in his career he developed his distinctive style through participation in major art competitions, including the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, and gained wider recognition after winning the Bath Art Prize in 2011. His breakthrough came in 2013 when the Paris gallery Galerie Daniel Maghen commissioned a series of watercolour paintings inspired by the world of The Wind in the Willows, marking the beginning of his focus on narrative illustration and gallery work. 

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Dunn’s work is characterised by finely observed landscapes and expressive animal characters that evoke the charm of traditional British storybooks. His illustrations often place anthropomorphic animals within richly imagined environments, blending nostalgia, humour, and gentle storytelling. 

Alongside gallery exhibitions, Dunn has illustrated a number of books including Paisley Rabbit and the Treehouse Contest, illustrated editions of The Wind in the Willows, and covers for the German editions of the Redwall novels. 

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Working primarily in watercolour and gouache, Dunn continues to produce both book illustrations and original paintings from his studio in the Wiltshire countryside, where the surrounding landscape provides constant inspiration for his imaginative and story-rich work.