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ABOUT

LIfe in Soil, Life in Art

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David is an innovative artist who makes many of his own paints by hand from soils and other natural pigments that he sources locally himself.   Wherever he goes he prospects for interesting soils and he knows exactly where all his colours come from.  Often his paintings incorporate pigments directly sourced from within yards of where he is making the artworks, creating a deeper connection between the artwork and the natural environment.  Following three decades working in and around the Asia Pacific region on sustainability issues, he uses his art to raise awareness of the fragility as well as resilience of the natural environment in particular local and global soils.  Though largely self-taught, he has studied art at the Metropolitan College Brighton and exhibited exhibited extensively.  In his Studio are bottles and jars filled with the beautiful coloured natural soils that he has ground up by hand.   A keen organic gardener he also volunteers at local community gardens.  He  currently lives between East Sussex and Hong Kong.   

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Solo Show, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Art House, Hong Kong, 2023

Member, UNO Gallery Seaford

Opulent Art Gallery

Exhibitor: Surrey Art Fair, September 2022

Art Wave Seaford, Sept 2022

Uckfield Art Fair July 2022

Sussex Art Fair May 2022

MADS Gallery Milan, Gaia The Origin Exhibition 2021

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Artist's Statement 

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“I am a naturally positive person who likes to focus on solutions, but witnessing remorseless deforestation, soil erosion, loss of fertile crop land, waste dumps and chemical spills and more during my years of work on sustainability across the Asian region led me to experience periods of deep sadness and hopelessness at the battering endured by our mother earth.

 

However, in recent years our understanding of soil and soil biology along with many other green solutions has developed in leaps and bounds! There is also deeper appreciation of the link between healthy soil, healthy food and our own health and inner resistance to disease. The transition to sustainability needs to be supported by a deep cultural shift, and this is why I have recently taken to combine my gardening and environmental work with art, as a means to explore the healing potential and the deep sustaining roots of our connection to the earth. And this is why I value the opportunity to share my art with you.

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Please feel welcome to join the community and discussion!

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