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.
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1979-84 Alcester Grammar School, Warwickshire.
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1984-86 Obtained a Diploma in Technical illustration, Mid-Warwickshire College, Leamington Spa.
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1986-88 Obtained a Diploma in Graphic Design, Swindon College of Art.
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1988-90 Worked as Graphic Designer/Illustrator.
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1990-92 Freelance book and magazine illustration.
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1993- Illustrate comic-strips for various publishers.
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2004 Elected an Associate Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
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2005 Elected a full Member of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
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2006 Elected a Member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
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2007 Elected the Honorary Secretary of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
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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
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2004 Tanner Prize RBSA Open Oils Exhibition
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2006 Tanner Prize RBSA Open Oils Exhibition
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2006 Coley-Tiller Prize RBSA
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2008 Second Prize BP Portrait Award, NPG, London
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2009 Charles Pears Memorial Award, RSMA , Mall Galleries,London
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2009 The Sea Pictures ‘Working Relationships’ Award, RSMA, London