Christabel Blackburn

Antler collaborates with British artist Christabel Blackburn on a unique piece, in support of children's charity Place2Be

This unique commission celebrates the timeless connection between art and travel – capturing the joy of exploration, with all proceeds going to the UK’s leading school-based mental health charity.

Art and travel have always been intrinsically linked. Infinite possibilities, new horizons, and discovery.

Our latest collaboration brings together two British icons – Antler, the British travel brand, and Christabel Blackburn, an acclaimed London-based artist. The unique painting captures the promise and potential of adventure, translating the essence of travel into a one-off piece of art.

The painting takes inspiration from the freedom that travel brings – something often missing in our fast-paced, urban lives. The composition centres around a woman disembarking from a train with her Antler suitcase in tow, facing the expansive British landscape that unfolds before her. Bold and confident in colour, the artist infuses vibrant hues inspired by Antler’s collection, reflecting the way travel colours our lives and sharpens our perspectives.

Christabel Blackburn’s signature style achieves a masterful balance between natural and built environments, capturing the harmony between the untamed beauty of nature and the man-made structures that guide our travels. This appreciation for form resonates deeply with Antler’s ethos, where thoughtful design meets the spirit of adventure. Together, we celebrate journeys where every moment invites discovery and fresh ways of seeing the world.

“Travel opens up endless possibilities, new inspiration, and new cultures. It’s a way to explore colours in the broadest sense.”

– Christabel Blackburn

“Artists have always travelled throughout history. They all downed brushes in their studio, to get out into the world and get inspiration - new cultures, new landscapes, new colours.”
“Inspiration doesn’t come from sitting still in the studio, it comes from getting out with my camera and my sketchbook.”
“I like to explore the world through paint as opposed to words or stories, so the artist and the viewer can kind of create their own story about that person.”
“We can all be quite fixated on our immediate lives, especially in a city we can feel quite small. And we don’t have the sense of expanse, potential, and perspective.”

About Christabel Blackburn

London based artist Christabel Blackburn is a painter who conjures atmospheric scenes which focus on the interplay between people and spaces. Using a sensitively reduced visual language, Blackburn distils the modern world and our interaction with it into quiet, concentrated scenes. Despite her minimalist approach to form, Blackburn handles paint in such a way as to create rhythm and a quiet kind of texture on the surface. By drawing attention to the act of painting, she reveals the artifice of her creations and emphasises their illusory nature.

Antler spoke to Christabel about how travel has shaped her creative journey, and life through an artist’s lens. Dive into her world as she shares insights on creativity, the joys of exploring new places, and the value of seeing life through an artist's lens.

christabelblackburn.com
@christabelblackburn

About Place2Be

Place2Be’s mission is to improve children and young people’s mental health, driven by the belief that no child should face mental health problems alone. 50% of adults with mental health problems experienced symptoms before the age of 14. By providing support in their early years, we aim to prevent life-long mental health issues and help children cope with challenges throughout their lives.

We work with pupils, families, and school staff to provide accessible mental health services, improving the emotional wellbeing of children in their crucial formative years. Place2Be is the UK’s leading school-based mental health charity working with around 350,000 children in over 650 schools every year. Place2Be’s transformative work is making a significant impact on children’s mental health across the UK.

place2be.org.uk

Place2Be Charity Number: 1040756