Artist Statement
David was a very keen and active painter until his late teens, indeed his ambition was to go to art school! But the world of work arrived, and as his CV demonstrates, this ambition was put aside for many years due to the exigencies of his very varied and busy career. Now mostly retired, David has returned to painting.
David has always been a regular attender at exhibitions and performance and has a strongly developed visual sense. As someone who believes there is always something to learn, he has finally achieved his ambition and is currently studying for a BA in Fine Art at Swansea College of Art. David says, “…this is not just about learning new skills but about unlearning and opening up".
“Light is a thing that cannot be reproduced but must be represented by something else – by colour.” Paul Cezanne.
David is fascinated by light & colour, especially where they come together in film (photography & cinema) and stained glass. He has never forgotten a statement of Kandinsky’s that was posted on the wall of the art room at his (famous) Liverpool Grammar School, “Colour provokes a psychic vibration”.
David enjoys the meditation of involvement, the resolution of a problem and seeks to translate his ‘thinking’ into more effective ‘doing’, to find an answer to Picasso’s question, “Why do two colours, put next to each other, sing”.
Currently David’s work is predominantly small to medium in scale and (unless otherwise stated) is executed in acrylic on paper, cardboard or upcycled ‘decorative art’ panels.
CV
PROFESSIONAL
Storesman – J. Langdon - Textile Manufacturer/Wholesaler.
Deputy Commercial Office Manager – Berry & Warmington - Capital Catering
Equipment Supplier.
Ladies Underwear Buyer – Ethel Austin Ltd. - National Clothing Chain.
Commissioned Officer – H.M. Customs & Excise (UK Border Control
and latterly VAT Inspector)
Tax & Management Consultant – Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC).
as above - Freelance
Director – Family Housing Association.
Chief Executive – Cinema for All/BFFS
Editor & staff writer – Film Magazine
Project Manager/Creative Producer – SEA City (Swansea Institute of Digital Media) for the Centenary of Cinema. incl. ‘Artists Rolls’ (10 commissioned artworks on film) & two other animated shorts.
Creative Producer/Producer - Tanio Tawe/Swansea Shines Festival (various lightning works across the city, including turning Seaview School into a spaceship that took off every 20 minutes)
Lecturer (Film & Media Studies) – Swansea Metropolitan University
ARTS & CULTURE
Chair/Organiser – Swansea Film Society
Founding Member, Board Member & Chairman – ADPW
(Arts for Disabled People in Wales)
Member – Arts Council of Wales Regional Board
Governor - National Museum of Wales
Council Member – Museums Association
Council Member – Council of Museums in Wales
Chairman – BFFS (British Federation of Film Societies)
Executive vice-President – IFFS (International Federation of Film Societies)
Director/Board Member – Tryfan Films Ltd.
Chairman – Volcano Theatre Company
OTHER
Governor – Swansea University
Fellow/Chairman – RSA Wales & Wales Board Member RSA Council.
POLITICAL
Elected Councillor – Preseli District Council, West Glamorgan County Council,
City & County of Swansea.
Various positions held incl. Chairman, Cultural Services;
Cabinet Member Finance, Leader of Opposition,
Leader of Council. WLGA Spokesman on Anti-Poverty
& Welfare Reform. Lord Mayor of Swansea.
Exhibitions
With Last Foundation Collective.
2017. ‘Swansea Popular Culture’. Swansea Fringe Exhibition.
Canolfan Morgannwg
2018. ‘New Directions’. National Waterfront Museum.
2018. ‘Performance’. Swansea Fringe Exhibition. Volcano Theatre
2019. ‘50 Years a City’. Swansea Fringe Exhibition. Volcano Theatre
2021. ‘Freedom’. Volcano Theatre.
Other
2022. Swansea Open. Glyn Vivian Art Gallery.