Born in 1951 in Berkeley California, David was raised and educated on the California coastline.
From a young age David began his “love affair” with the ocean, becoming a surfer at age 13 and being dazzled by the beauty of the sea. As a teenager and young man, his artistic talents emerged as he experimented with airbrushes and surrealist images.
In 1974 he emigrated to New Zealand where he built a beachside home and started a family. Being surrounded by an inspiring environment moved David to continue his artistic passion. With many exhibitions in New Zealand including a big show at the Auckland Society of Arts back in 1987, and his participation in the original “Artex(s)” back in the 1990’s, David’s work has always been well known in New Zealand. After a long stint working in the Art Department with the Film Industry in Auckland on feature films and TV, David made the move, with his supportive partner Jo, to Australia and the Gold Coast in 2005 to further his career as an artist.
David has been painting for over 35 years and working on aluminium almost exclusively for 16 years. During this time, he has perfected the process of painting in oils directly into metal. His works are unique, mesmerizing, and stand out from the crowd. David’s Art embraces water, light, and the natural world as the central core of his inspiration, while being completely focused on the connection we all share with the natural environment.
David has won two prestigious Art awards in Australia – First prize in landscape for “Liquid Radiance” at the Doyle Awards in 2010 and The People’s Choice Award for “The Ocean Cubed” at the Swell Sculpture Festival in Queensland.
Recent sales include three aluminium works for the Katara Cultural Village in Doha Qatar for their permanent exhibition. His Art has been purchased by collectors from all over the world and he has accomplished many large and exciting commissions during his career.
Selected Recent Exhibitions
2022 - Art Lovers Australia Finalist Exhibition
2020 – Feature Artist, Manyung Gallery Sorrento
2019 – Summer Group Show Black Door Gallery,
Auckland
2017 - Exhibition Black Door Gallery, Parnell Auckland
2016 - Black Door Gallery Group Show, Parnell Auckland
2016 - Red Hill Gallery Brisbane, Summer Group Show
2014 - Swell Sculpture Festival Australia -
“Floating in the Light”
2013 - Manyung Gallery Sorrento, Summer Group Show
2013 - Featured Artist - Kings College Easter Art Festival,
Gold Coast QLD
2012 - Manyung Gallery Christmas Group Show
2011 - Manyung Gallery Sorrento, Summer Group Show
2011 - Summer Group Show, Ultimo Interiors Perth
2010 - Jive Art Group Show, Noosa Heads QLD
2008 - Solo Exhibition, Sofitel Hotel Broadbeach, QLD
2008 - Group Show, Corporate Art Gold Coast
2007 - Group Show, Jive Art Noosa Heads QLD
2007 - Corporate Art – Art Sydney, Art Melbourne
2006 - Jive Art Noosa Heads
2006 - Art Gallery Collections, Art Sydney, Art Melbourne
2004 - Affordable Art Show Sydney
1999 - Arts Desire Gallery, Warkworth NZ
1999 - Night of Erotic Art, Auckland NZ
1997 - ARTEX 97, Auckland New Zealand
1996 - Downtown Hilton Gallery Auckland NZ
1995 - Downtown Hilton Gallery Auckland NZ
1993 - Stanley St. Art Centre Auckland NZ
1992 - ARTEX 92 Auckland NZ
1989 - Artist in Residence QEII Arts Council Grant
Northland NZ
1987 - ASA Gallery Auckland NZ
Selected Awards, Commissions & Career Highlights:
2021 – Commissions sent to Katara Cultural Village in Doha, Qatar
2021 - Dean Cogle Portrait Prize Finalist Gold Coast
2019 - Innovation in Art Award, d'Arcy Doyle Art Award Gold Coast
2019 - A&J Commission Soverign Island Gold Coast
2018 - J&F Commission Gold Coast Queensland
2018 - AS Commission Auckland New Zealand
2018 - P&C Commission Perth Australia
2017 - RS Commission Perth Australia
2017 - Triptych for Bin 931Brisbane Australia
2016 – Large Commission for JS - David Hart Gallery, London
2016 - CP Commission Perth Australia
2015 – Commission for Seascape Beachfront Restaurant, QLD
2015 - Entry of self portrait for the 2015 Archibald Prize
2014 - Titan’s Charity Ball auction donation for
Ronald Mcdonald House Brisbane
2014 - People’s Choice Award “Very GC” Marymount Art
Show, Gold Coast QLD
2014 - Entry, “Very GC” 2014 d’Arcy Doyle Art Award, Australia
2014 – Commissioned painting for E3 Accountants,
Christchurch, New Zealand
2013 - 4 Commissioned paintings for private collections in
New Zealand and Perth
2011 - People’s Choice Award at the Swell Sculpture Festival
2010 - First prize winner 2010 d’Arcy Doyle Art Award
2010 - Featured on Channel 9 Gold Coast News Australia
2009 - D. O’Raferty commission
2009 - T. Stark commissions
2009 - M. & L. Fraser commission
2008 - R. & K. Wilson commission
2006 - Ukraine – 5 months at Lux Palace Donetsk
1994 - Commissioned Art for Bryant Accountants, Auckland NZ