Christopher Wood (1901-1930)

Painter, born at Knowsley, near Liverpool.  Following education at Marlborough College, 1914�15, Malvern College, 1918, and Liverpool School of Architecture, 1919�20, in 1921 he went to Paris and enrolled at the Acad�mie Julian and later attended Acad�mie de la Grande Chaumi�re. In France, he befriended Chilean diplomat Antonio de Gandarillas, (1887-1970) and with him travelled through Europe, and North Africa and Greece. It was Gandarillas who introduced Wood to opium. Returning to France Kit Wood enjoyed friendships with Picasso and Jean Cocteau. In 1924, he exhibited at Heals and the following year at the Redfern Gallery, with Paul Nash. By 1926, he had met Ben and Winifred Nicholson and painted with them in St. Ives, Cornwall. In 1928, Wood visited their house in Cumberland before returning to Cornwall, where he met Alfred Wallis whom he befriended. He became a member of the 7 & 5 Society