Profiles

"I did not set out to educate people, I set out to paint something I feel strongly about. If my feelings come through to people, it makes me happy."

So said Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy at a preview of her show Journeys at the Air Gallery in London's West End before it moved on to Aldeburgh, close to where she lives with her husband Roderick and family. The new show reflects on the journeys she has made and the landscapes which have influenced her most - Nigeria, Mozambique, Scotland and Suffolk.

Her Flame Of The Forest is a reminder of the fire trees which were in full bloom when her sister died in Nigeria.

Flame Of The Forest

Chinwe was born in Awka in the west African country, but left for the UK in 1975 some five years after the Biafran conflict. She'd taken 'O' levels in Nigeria and left to study at Hornsey College of Art in north London.

"I've always drawn and painted - all my life. I got in trouble at school for doing drawings of the teachers!"

She works mainly in oils recreating the colour of the African landscapes, but Chinwe's also a sculptor. As well as African works, she was artist-in-residence at the University of East Anglia and painted a picture of Arsenal's David Rocastle for their 'Farewell to Highbury' events.

Critics and the Queen

"I do get nervous when people criticise my work, but I do appreciate it. Invariably everyone says 'oh, it's lovely', but you always wonder if they really mean that.

"If someone honestly tells you something they don't like about it, it's a shared thing. You give and you take and learn from it and move on from it."

David 'Rocky' Rocastle

In 2002, Chinwe painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II for her golden jubilee: "It came about quite by chance. I was painting a picture of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku and he suggested I submit my portfolio to paint a portrait of the Queen.

"I was very honoured to be chosen. As far as I'm aware she liked it, because she's got my study at St James's House."

Chinwe was made an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list in 2009. The Journeys exhibition is at the Aldeburgh Cinema Gallery, 13-18 June 2009.

Visit the artist's website for more news on her work.

Chinwe will be the sofa guest on the Lesley Dolphin show (1300-1600 BST) on BBC Radio Suffolk on Tuesday 23 June 2009.