Simon Davis RP RBSA

Statement

The disciplines of my comic-strip work, with the need for narrative and careful composition, perhaps complements my oil painting and makes me approach a portrait in a more dynamic and economical way. I am particularly interested in the ‘square brush technique’ as used by The Newlyn School of Painters and Henry La Thangue.

Methodology

I paint in oils on board using mainly square brushes, and prefer to paint smaller, intimate portraits.I work entirely from photographs that I take of the sitter and loosely follow rough compositional thumbnails that I draw out earlier.

The commission process is a simple one and depending on size, a portrait will usually take one or two months.

Bio

• 1968 Born in Stratford upon Avon.

• 1979-84 Alcester Grammar School, Warwickshire.

• 1984-86 Obtained a Diploma in Technical illustration, Mid-Warwickshire College, Leamington Spa.

• 1986-88 Obtained a Diploma in Graphic Design, Swindon College of Art.

• 1988-90 Worked as Graphic Designer/Illustrator.

• 1990-92 Freelance book and magazine illustration.

• 1993- Illustrate comic-strips for various publishers.

• 2004 Elected an Associate Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

• 2005 Elected a full Member of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

• 2006 Elected a Member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

• 2007 Elected the Honorary Secretary of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

• 2008 Elected a Council Member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

Memberships

Member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

Scholarships, Awards, Prizes

• 2004 Tanner Prize RBSA Open Oils Exhibition

• 2006 Tanner Prize RBSA Open Oils Exhibition

• 2006 Coley-Tiller Prize RBSA

• 2008 Second Prize BP Portrait Award, NPG, London

• 2009 Charles Pears Memorial Award, RSMA , Mall Galleries,London

• 2009 The Sea Pictures ‘Working Relationships’ Award, RSMA, London