Biography

Dave West portrait

DAVE WEST ARTIST

Dave West was born in the small fishing village of Penclawdd in South Wales, He spent much of his childhood in Swansea City moving to Ireland in 1995 and has lived and worked as a full time artist in North County Dublin since.

He travels extensively around Ireland producing much of his work ‘en plein air’ (painting from life outdoors) spending much time on the Southern and Western seaboard exploring and painting the coastline all the way from Wexford to Donegal. Many of his larger studio works are based on smaller ‘plein air’ studies and he feels that this challenging method with its direct connection to the landscape enables him to capture a much deeper and richer experience than working from photographic sources.

Dave has had 17 solo exhibitions to date and is a regular exhibitor in Ireland with the Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Ulster Academy, the Dublin Painting and Sketching Club and the Irish Pastel Society. His work is in numerous corporate, private and state collections including Fingal and Wexford County Councils, the Office of Public Works, BP, Texaco, Bank of Ireland and the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.

Dave maintains a strong artistic connection with the UK and is a regular exhibitor at the majority of its most prestigious shows including the Royal West of England Academy, Royal Cambrian Academy in Wales, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Society of British Artists and the New English Art Club. In 2017 he won the first prize Gold Mayoral Award at the International plein air festival ‘Art in the Open’ and in 2013 won the Schminke award at the London Pastel Society Annual Exhibition.

Solo Exhibitions
2015 – Title tbc, Easter Snow Gallery, The Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
2015 – Title tbc, TheDenis Collins Gallery, Wexford
2014 – ‘New Pastel Works’, Jordan Arts, Rush, Co. Dublin
2014 – Art at the House, Howth, Co. Dubin
2014 – ‘Nightpaintings’, Iontas, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
2013 – Leinster Gallery, Dublin2012 –‘Recent pastel drawings’ Village Gallery, Skerries
2012 – ‘Nocturama’ Draiocht Arts Centre, Dublin
2011 – ‘Seashaken’ Art Upstairs / Wexford Opera Festival
2010 – Village Gallery, Skerries
2010 – Killarney Art Gallery / Valentia Island Gallery
2009 – Blue Leaf Gallery
2008 – Art Upstairs, Wexford
2007 – Blue Leaf Gallery
2007 – Daffodil Gallery, Skerries

Group Exhibitions
2014 – Wexford Opera Festival Exhibition, Greenacres Art Gallery, Wexford
2014 – Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition
2014 – Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition
2014 – Royal West of England Academy Annual Exhibition, Bristol, UK
2013 – Cavehill Gallery Christmas Show (also 2012, 2011)
2013 – Pastel Society Annual Exhibition, London – Winner of the Schminke Award (also 2012)
2012 – New English Art Club Annual Exhibition (also 2011)
2012 – Royal Institute of oil Painters Annual Exhibition
2012 – Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition, London (also 2011, 2009)
2012 – Dunamaise Annual Open (level), Portlaoise (also 2011, 2009)
2011 – RUA Annual Exhibition, Belfast (also 2008)
2010 – Blue LeafGallery, Toronto Art Fair
2009 – RHA Annual Exhibition
2009 – Eigse Festival, Carlow