Christopher Whiteside graduated in Fine & Applied Art at University of Ulster in July 2012. Since then Whiteside has worked in amateur theatre set design at Belvoir Players Theatre in Belfast and art direction in short film productions by Caught in the Headlights Productions.
Whiteside's passion for illustration came in those early days as a young boy when he would study very intensely; the lavishly coloured and detailed images of prehistoric dinosaurs, found in educational books from the library and at school. Whiteside would often try to draw his favourite extinct reptiles and monsters of his own creation; secretly doodling in his school note books whilst sitting on the toilet at school, or at home when he was meant to be doing his homework.
Whiteside's interest in illustrated stories developed further when he discovered the world of Marvel comics and superheroes. He has since then remained a boy in a man's body and still follows the adventures of many superheroes and villains, creatures and monsters alike in their multi - panelled and bombastic adventures, inspiring him to try illustrating and writing his own stories. Some of these stories are made in other media, such as film, costume and mask design, painting and sculpture.
Whiteside's first book, 'Three Wee Muckers', explores that childlike innocence and excitement felt in us all when playing hide and seek on your elders, and how they too can have fun playing games, especially when they bend the rules!