Chris Dooks

Chris Dooks (born Christopher Dooks in 1971) is a Scotland-based artist, primarily working in the fields of photography, film and audio-art. Currently he is living with his wife and two children in Ayr.

Dooks was born in 1971 in Middlesbrough.

He studied sound design and film at the Cleveland College of Art and Design from 1989–1991, and from 1991–1994 film and video art at the Edinburgh College of Art.

Dooks first broadcast work was in 1994 when ITV screened his degree film The Sound of Taransay. Between 1994-1998 he directed several works for broadcast television, including The South Bank Show. In 1998 while working on a program for PBS in the United States Dooks became ill with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which puts an end to his television career.

After a break, Dooks was able to continue creating his audio-visual art. Researching ways how to work while suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome he began developing creative strategies, he labeled Idioholism (a combination of holism and idiosyncrasy). His extensive research eventually lead to a PhD at the University of the West of Scotland. The central part of his work was a vinyl record trilogy.

Besides of in Idioholism mentioned works Dooks has released several electronica and folktronica albums for record labels such as Bip-Hop, Highpoint Lowlife and Benbecula Records. He has co-operated with artists like Francis Cazal, Future Pilot, Hibernate, or Rutger Zuydervelt. Dooks also uses the moniker Bovine Life for audio works. (link to his Mixcloud page is on WP blacklist)

Dooks has produced work for the Millennium Experience and created installations and art works for international galleries, among them Market Gallery Glasgow, Teesside University, Middlesbrough venue, Gallery Edinburgh, Isis Arts Newcastle, Sandberg Institute Amsterdam, or the Edinburgh College of Art. In 2003 for Stills Gallery Edinburgh, Dooks coined the term Polymash to describe his "chaotic multi-disciplinary practice" and in 2007, Dooks founded "Polymash Digital Art Projects" which creates bespoke Psychogeography tours, most notably 2009's Surreal Steyning.

Dooks had screenings and talks at art spaces like Another Roadside Attraction Gallery, London, National Museum of Scotland, Furtherfield, London, or Image Movement, at festivals like International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, International Short Film Festival Oberhausen

• 2010 Sound Artist in Residence, Tramway, Ayr Town Hall
• 2009 Steyning Festival Artist in Residence, Sussex
• 2009 Ice House Artist in Residence, Sutherland
• 2006 Deveron Arts, Box Projects, Lumsden
• 2005 Embassy Court As Ruby’s Comet, Artist in Residence, Brighton
• 2003 Stills Gallery, Edinburgh, Artist in Residence
• 2001 Tyneside, Video Artist in Residence
• 2001 STEIM Amsterdam, Musician in Residence
• 2001 Cornish College of The Arts, Seattle Internet Artist in Residence
• 2000 Newcastle University - Department of Fine Art, Resident Artist
• 2000 BBC Television Northern Film Archive Year of The Artist To Look North
• 1996 Ellen Wilkinson High School, Manchester, Artist in Residence and tutor

• 2011 University of Bristol
• 2011 Holmston House, Ayr
• 2010 CCA Glasgow
• 2010 Box projects, Lumsden
• 2009 Timespan, Sutherland
• 2006 3rd International Middle East Festival, Edinburgh
• 2005 The National Galleries of Scotland Edinburgh
• 2004 Stills Gallery Edinburgh
• 2001 University of Newcastle
• 2001 Cornish College of Arts, Seattle
• 2001 Sandberg Institute of Arts, Amsterdam
• 1996 Edinburgh College of Art
• 1995-1996 Cleveland College of Art and Design
• 1996 The Landscape and Art Institute, Surrey