David Abse was born in December 1958. David studied art and design at the University of Wolverhampton in the early 1980s, and has subsequently exhibited his work throughout the UK (including the Francis Kyle Gallery in London, and the Bradford Biennale) and elsewhere in the world, including France, Japan and Poland. In 2009 David’s work was featured on TV’s ‘The One Show’.
For 30 years David worked in the UK's charity sector. His achievements in that sector include 7 years as Chief Executive of Islington Voluntary Action Council, setting up and founding PEACe, London Voluntary Service Council’s HR project. Whilst working at LVSC David gained an MA in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management. David wrote several chapters of the well-known publication “Voluntary But Not Amateur”.
Five years ago David moved to France, and returned to painting, drawing and printmaking.
David lives with his family in a small house in the beautiful medieval village of Les Matelles in the Hérault.
Exhibitions:
- 1983: Tarmac Prize – Wolverhampton UK
- 1984: Ferens Art Gallery – Open - Hull UK
- 1984: Bradford Print Biennale - UK
- 1985: Kanagawa Print – Japan
- 1985: Leigh Gallery, Kings Cross, London (solo show)
- 1986: Open Print Exhibition, Krakow, Poland
- 2010: New Paintings: Matelles-Art Gallery, France
- 2011: March: Liquid Oxygen – Group Show, Icosahedron Gallery, New York, USA
- 2011: April: Le Printemps en Folie Le Soleil Bleu Galerie, Lodève, France
- 2011: May: Animals Art Nomade, Gignac, France
- 2011: May 21: Pic Saint Loup “Festa Trail”, St Mathieu, France
- 2011: June: Boom The Brick Lane Gallery, London, UK
- 2011: June/July: Animaux, Matelles-Art Gallery, France
- 2011: October: Parallax Art Fair, London, UK
Collections:
Francis Kyle Gallery, London (1984-1990)
Publications:
June/July 2011 edition of L’Artiste. (See www.lheraultart.com ).
Statement
I have been drawing as long as I can remember. My grandfather was a shop steward for years in the Pilkingtons' glassworks in St Helens, but after he retired he went to art school every day for 30 years. He died over 20 years ago, aged 99, still a communist, determined not to get a telegram from the queen. He was and is my inspiration. My painting is inspired by my environment, and by my political activism, There are images I want to make, textures I want to paint. Sometimes I start a painting with a complete composition in mind that I sketch out on canvas. Sometimes I start with a blank canvas and just some ideas. I use a variety of media – oils, acrylics, spray paint, and I like to draw and to make prints to. The media, the subject matter, my mood and my inspiration vary – so my work varies. I am as likely to do a small flower painting as a large abstract canvas.
A painting can take hours or weeks. I never know when I start when I am going to finish. You make your own luck in painting: if you are too careful you will have no fortunate accidents. And unfortunate ones can always be painted over. If it’s gone it’s gone – no regrets.
I like to change what I paint – sometimes abstract, sometimes not: sometimes drawings, sometimes paintings – change my materials – I use spray paint, acrylics, water colours and oils. I don’t think there are limits. Painting is both a struggle and play. Without both it is worthless. To my own disadvantage I am not a slave to style or fashion. If I want to paint some flowers, I will. If I want to paint in an abstract way, I will. I like to experiment: if it doesn’t always work it doesn’t matter. My influences are far and wide, in terms of both style, geography and time. Everything is an inspiration for a creation – a landscape, a building, an animal, an emotion, a song, a book.. Let everything in: do not exclude.