David Norman SWAc

David's watercolours are underpinned by a strong sense of draughtsmanship, a legacy from a rigorous training in architectural drawing and rendering.

At school he was always interested in painting and wanted to go to Art school, but his father thought he should have a 'proper job'. So he studied to become an architect, and during his career he learnt to bring his designs to life with watercolour perspectives and sketches. He worked for the Dartington Hall Trust and as a design director in London for many years but at 40 took a degree in fine art and from then on his career in watercolour painting began.

Over the years David has been inspired by the many locations in which he has lived including a house in France for a number of years, where he had a number of very successful exhibitions. His atmospheric paintings are inspired by these locations and also reflect his background in architecture.

Red Sails, Watercolour

Red Sails, Watercolour

Restaurant, Watercolour

Restaurant, Watercolour

On returning to Devon, the county of his birth, he set up his studio in Totnes and his paintings now reflect his confidence and commitment through being settled back in his home town and being able to put all his energies into his work.

Over the years his palette has become more and more refined as he tries to simplify and justify his paintings in terms of tone and atmosphere alone.

David has had many one man exhibitions and his paintings are in collections throughout the world. He is the author of two books on watercolour painting. 'The Complete Watercolourist' and 'Watercolour, Artists Questions Answered'.