David Wightman (painter)

David Wightman (born in Stockport, Greater Manchester 1980) is an English painter known for his abstract and landscape acrylic paintings using collaged wallpaper.[1] He graduated with an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art in 2003.[2]

In 2003, while still studying at the Royal College of Art (and having just been nominated for the Lexmark European Art Prize),[3] Meredith Etherington-Smith, former editor of Art Review, said of his short-listed piece: "David Wightman frames his picture perfect Swiss postcard in the cool collateral of a Ben Nicholson modernist painting".[4]

In 2009, he showed a large site-specific painting: Behemoth at Cornerhouse, Manchester (2009)[5] and went on to exhibit with Sumarria Lunn Gallery at The Hempel, London (2010).[6] In 2010-11 he was one of two artists (the other being Hannah Maybank) selected for the Berwick Gymnasium Arts Fellowships - a six-month residency supported by English Heritage and Arts Council England. The residency took place in a Nicholas Hawksmoor designed former military gymnasium in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland.[7] In 2013, he was commissioned by HOUSE Festival in Brighton (selected by artist Mariele Neudecker)[8] to make a site-specific painting for a disused pavilion on Brighton's seafront. The piece (Hero) is the largest painting by the artist to date.[9]

Cherie Federico, editor of Aesthetica Magazine has said: "You must spend time with Wightman’s paintings; on the surface they are beautiful and intricate, but like the layers they are made from, there is so much depth to his works".[10] In 2012 he had his first major solo show entitled Paramour at Halcyon Gallery, London.[11] His work is held in several public collections including the Royal College of Art and General Energy UK.[12] Most recently, Wightman collaborated with the Swiss fashion house Akris as part of their Fall / Winter 2014/15 collection. He lives and works in London.

Further reading

External links

References

  1. ↑ Khan, Tabish. "Art Review: David Wightman – Paramour at Halcyon Gallery". Londonist. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  2. ↑ "Fine Art Visiting Speakers Programme". Newcastle University. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Ezard, John (21 April 2003). "Painters target the Turner". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "David's brush with Euro success". Stockport Times West. 22 May 2003.
  5. ↑ "Behemoth and Other New Paintings". Cornerhouse. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Howard, Donna Marie. "Secret Name". The Workshop of Sir Reginald Bray. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  7. ↑ King, Judith. "In conversation with David Wightman". Arts & Heritage. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "HOUSE 2013 selected artists and commissions announced". Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "David Wightman · Hero". Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  10. ↑ Paramour. London: Halcyon Gallery. 2012. ISBN 978-1-907849-08-4.
  11. ↑ Paramour. London: Halcyon Gallery. 2012. ISBN 978-1-907849-08-4.
  12. ↑ "David Wightman - Artists". Halcyon Gallery. Retrieved 26 December 2013.