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Christopher Hewett (1938-1983) was the fourth of five siblings Beryl, Stella, and Peter and the youngest Valerie.

During WW2 the five children were evacuated from London  to a  school in Wales,  together with their numerous cousins.

 

Christopher went to study at Bishop's Stortford College; it was there he met his schoolmaster Walter. J. Strachan. "Every schoolmaster experiences a thrill when a pupil he senses to be 'special' comes into his life...It is especially exciting when it extends beyond the classroom framework to a shared enthusiasm - several across the years." 

It was during those years in which they "... cycled along to local churches and sketching features that caught his eye." and later through Nothern France, specifically Normandy.


Strachan introduced him to Sir Sydney Cockerell (1867–1962), an English museum curator and collector who served as director of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge (1908–1937). Cockerell struck up a friendship with John Ruskin and William Morris and served as the latter's private secretary. Cockerell introduced Christopher  to the world of calligraphy and then  introduced him to David Gould (1922-2004), art dealer and connoisseur and with whom he later  started the Taranmana Art Gallery.  

 

When Christopher  went to Cyprus as a national service man they maintained contact by  corresponding.  After he returned they were able to see much more of each other, when Christopher spent time at the Ruskin Drawing School at Oxford (1958-1960). It was during those days they "roamed the Costwolds in a pale Cambridge-blue open topped Austin Seven,  visiting old churches and spending hours discussing every aspect of English art."

 

In the following years Christopher went to study Interior Design at the Royal College of Art and after that went on to Paris and took up work as an architectural draughtsman. He returned to London after a car accident and worked for the family business for a while.

 

In 1971 Christopher visited Algeria for the first time. He  travelled in an old jeep along the ancient route over the Atlas Mountains until Tamanrasset. He lived with the nomadic Touareg people sharing their leisurely and impoverished life and went back on several occasions, the last time in 1974. 

 

It was during these first years in the Seventies that the idea of opening up an art gallery struck them; it finally opened in 1974.

 

“In between my work at a London Auction House, I would spend hours in his flat at South Kensington. We drank China tea and munched toast, Christopher with the inevitable cigarette poised in hand. Why not sit in a modest Gallery all day long doing the same thing we wondered?”

 

Excerpts by Walter Strachan and David Gould - Preface of the catalogue Christopher Hewett

 

  • - JB - Ahbeg Bracelet Berber, circa 1950

  • A. CH. Un jove Christopher Hewett al devant de la casa familiar 7 Queen's Ride, Barnes, London –

  • B.CH - Christopher Hewett amb el seu pare Franck Hewett –

  • C.CH 1 - Written on back: First day in Tasmena 19/20? Oct. 1971 - Photograph on paper –

  • C.CH 2 - Christopher in Tamanrasset, 1971 –

  • C.CH 3 - Bilall Ourzig ag Mustapha - Written on back by Christopher Hewett: Billal Ourzig ag Mustapha – Photographed at Azouar, Tasmena (Niger) in October 1971 *Noble of leading Kel Rela tribe –

  • C.CH 3 - JEEP - Photo of the jeep in the desert - Tagdaït, Tasmena (Niger) November 1971 –

  • CV 1 - Antique Tuareg earthenware water jug circa 1950 - Private collection –

  • CV 2 - Antique earthenware pottery holder for dates almonds or figs - Circa 1950 - Private collection –

  • CV 3 - Antique earthenware oil & vinegar container - Double gargoulette, circa 1950 - Private collection –

  • CV4 - Antique earthenware Tuareg vessel - Circa 1950 - Private collection –

  • CV5 - Antique Maghnia Earthenware Tuareg vessel - Circa 1950 - Private collection –

  • CV6 - Antique Tuareg earthenware Vessel - Circa 1950 - Private collection –

  • CV7 - Antique Tuareg earthenware vessel - circa 1950 - Private collection –

  • D1 - Casa de la Vall - Andorra 1953 - Ink and wash - Drawing Christopher Hewett –

  • D2 La Massana - Andorra - 18 C cottages on the way to the church 1953 - Ink and wash - Drawing by Christopher Hewett –

  • D3 - La Massana - Andorra - Església i cases rurals del segle XVIII 1953 - Tinta i aiguada - Dibuix Christopher Hewett –

  • D4 - Santa Coloma - View through the belfry window of the tower showing the crude banister shaft –

  • Drawing - Hammersmith Bridge - Signed and dated Christopher Hewett July 1956 –

  • JB - Ahbeg Bracelet Berber, circa 1950 –

  • JB2 - Ahbeg Bracelet, Berber, circa 1950 –

  • JP - Khoumeissa Berber Pendants, leather charm necklace with metal, circa 1950 –

  • JP - Khoumeissa Berber pendent - 5 rohmbuses - circa 1950 –

  • JP - Khoumeissa Berbers pendents in 3 sizes, circa 1950 –

  • JP - Leather charm necklace, Berber, with metal circa 1950 –

  • JP - Medium sized Khoumeissa Berber pendent circa 1950 –

  • JP 65 - Antique Khoumeissa Berber Pendant, circa 1950 –

  • JP1 - Khoumeissa Berber pendant , circa 1950 –

  • JR - Khoumeissa Ring - The top part of the ring opens so one can keep some powder in it - Circa 1950 –

  • JR2 - Khoumeissa Berber hand painted metal Rings, circa 1950 –

  • LA - Accessory Berber leather, circa 1950 –

  • LA - Leather accessory (broken) –

  • LB - Leather berber accessory to wear around the neck, circa 1950 –

  • LC - Leather accessory, circa 1950 –

  • LD - Berber leather accessory, circa 1950 –

  • WP - Antique Berber serving dish, circa 1970 –

  • WV - Wooden Berber bowl that dates back to the middle of the XX century. It stands on some of the catalogues edited by Christopher Hewett –

  • WVB - Antique Berber Painted Wooden Box –