hris Flint has been creating beautiful models for over thirty years. hris Flint has been creating beautiful models for over thirty years.
"My entire lifetime has been a never ending love affair with horses! I have spent it as an avid student, learning every detail of their anatomy and the subtle expressions that make each one unique"
Beau Cheveaux" means "beautiful horses", and since 1967, Artist Chris Nandell has been creating some of the most beautiful hand-painted, original horse sculptures in the business. With skillful and exacting detail, she hand crafts each sculpture. Her clients are world-wide and include several celebrities and professionals within the horse industry. In addition, her work is owned by collectors all over the United States as well as many other countries around the world. Many have won Championships and National Championship titles for their owners. Her work has also been commissioned for use as breed association awards and her donations of pieces for various fund-raising auctions have been extremely successful money-earners.
Always interested in sharing her interest and knowledge of horses, Chris wrote and published the book, Trade Secrets, (updated in 1985, and also in 1990 and 2000). In it, Chris takes the reader step-by-step through the painstaking process of creating beautiful horse sculptures. Chris also enjoys teaching others in private lessons and seminars throughout the country, and sponsors a group list for her students for continuing education.
Originally from the Kansas City area, she now lives on a small acreage in rural Oklahoma. Chris works in her studio surrounded by horse art and reference material with a view of her living models, a small herd of ponies. She is also an accomplished leather crafter and makes miniature tack and award-winning, intricately hand-tooled western saddles for her sculptures as well as magnificent dimensional paintings.
In her spare time, Chris and her Husband Pete, raise and train their own Hackney Ponies, Shetland Ponies and American Show Ponies. They also enjoy spending time gardening and with their other animals, an assortment of dogs, cats, chickens and anything else Chris can sneak on the place! Or just relaxing and enjoying the view off the back porch.
In October 2008, Chris donated one of her retired show string models ("Wildest Dreams") to the American Pinto Association's "Heritage Museum" in Bethany, Oklahoma. First photo is of Chris with Club President, Darryl Bilke and Dorothy Fread. (Photo by Pete Nandell.)
The following photos by Gretchen Adams.
In Fall 2008, Chris was interviewed by her local TV station.
Update summer 2015: Chris is semi-retiring. She will still make and sell pieces but no longer will take commissions (and be dependent on others' schedules).
Chris Flint - Beau Cheveaux Creations
Photos from BreyerFest 2009 Artist Gallery
Fox at Top: Red seated fox, customized from the Kathleen Moody fox; created 2008.
Group photo middle of introduction: Customized Kelso in chestnut by Chris shown in Sam Savitt's study.
Group photo bottom of introduction: Chris' personal show string and results from North American Nationals 2007.
Group photo after contact information: Teaser photo of in progress works in silver dapple. From left to right - Pregnant Pause, Eberl "Lina", Eberl Icelandic.
Hackney pony Jamacianme Crazy, a 1996 resincast by Chris
Frisky Pony Spring Fling, original sculpture, released as limited edition resin
Arabian: My Khemosabi, bay stallion customized from the Breyer Traditional Sham
Draft: 'Vette head study, bay draft mare customized from the Linda York 'Vette resin, 2005.
Paint: Big Time Leo, grulla overo stallion customized from the Breyer Traditional Adios
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