I have been drawing and painting directly from life, exploring and developing in parallel my two main interests still life and landscape, since the mid nineteen seventies.

The landscapes are painted and drawn entirely on location and still lives are from studio set-ups. I have never had any interest in painting from photography. The subject matter provides a vehicle through which selection and editing can take place and compositional, tonal and colour harmonies created. The constant working and reworking forms paint layering that gives the paintings texture. Paintings have to be seen to appreciate this.

 

The working process is lengthy so that a deep level of investigation can take place that enables the paintings and drawings to go beyond a superficial impression.

David Stubbs talking with Caroline Halford at his solo exhibtion at Heatherley School of Fine Art, London in 2021. Photograph taken by Carolyn Gowdy.

David Stubbs working on the large oval 2020

I don't make paintings ‘of’ things.
I paint ‘from’ things. Titling my still life paintings by colour, something I began doing while I was studying at the Slade, reflects this.

What I see and the satisfaction gained from drawing and painting from life are what inspire me to begin working.

ARTIST RESUME
Born in Brighton

Graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art in 1981.

Part time teacher at The Heatherley School of Fine Art, London

TRAINING
2006-07 University of the Arts London, Centre for Teaching and Learning Art & Design - Pg Cert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
2007 - Fellow of The Higher Education Academy
1985-87 Newcastle Upon Tyne Polytechnic - MA Fine Art
1977-81 Slade School of Fine Art, University College  London BA Hons in Fine Art, Painting
1976-77 West Sussex College of Design, Worthing  Foundation studies
 
AWARDS
1991 Northern Arts Travel Award
1988 Northern Arts Printmaking Award
1981 J. Milner Kite Scholarship  Slade School of Fine Art
1981 Audrey Wykeham Painting Prize  Slade School of Fine Art
 
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 & 24 London Art Fair, Business Design Centre, Islington – Aldous Fine Art
2023 British Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea – Aldous Fine Art
2022 & 23 Connect Art Fair, Mall Galleries, London – Aldous Fine Art
2021-24 Annual Staff Exhibition, Heatherley School of Fine Art, London
2015-21 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea – Aldous Fine Art     
2014-20 Heatherley School of Fine Art Staff Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London
2012 ‘12 x 6’ De La Warr Pavillion Project Space, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex
2009 ‘Little Wonder’ St Annes Galleries, Lewes
2007 &
13 -15  
Hackwood Art Festival, Hampshire
2006-17 Rowley Gallery, Kensington, London
2006 The Great Art Fair, Alexandra Palace, London
2006 ‘Images of land and sea’ Gallery South, Eastbourne
2005 Fairfax Gallery, Tunbridge Wells
2005 New Grafton Gallery, London
2003 ‘Art Uncorked’ Lennox Gallery, Fulham
2003 Fairfax Gallery, Tunbridge Wells
2002 Zillah Bell Contemporary Art, Thirsk, North  Yorkshire
2001 Fairfax Gallery, Tunbridge Wells
2001 New Grafton Gallery, London
2001 Beaux Arts, Bath
2001 London College of Fashion - Staff Exhibition
2000 New Grafton Gallery, London
2000 Zillah Bell Contemporary Art, Thirsk, North  Yorkshire
1999 'Artists of today and tomorrow - part II'  New Grafton Gallery, London
1999 London College of Fashion - Staff Exhibition.
1998 Zillah Bell Contemporary Art, Thirsk, North  Yorkshire
1996 Zillah Bell Contemporary Art, Thirsk, North  Yorkshire
1994 Oxford Gallery
1993 Galerie Kohler, Kensington, London
1993 Zillah Bell Contemporary Art, Thirsk, North  Yorkshire
1989 Charlotte Press Exhibition, Newcastle Central  Library
1988 Saddler Gallery, Durham City
1988 Dovecot Arts Centre, Stockton
1988 Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick, Northumberland
1987 Cleveland College of Art Gallery, Middlesbrough
1986 Gray Art Gallery, Hartlepool
1986 Alms House, Palace Green, Durham City
1986 Waterloo Street Studios, Newcastle Upon Tyne
1982 Terrace Gallery, Worthing
1982 Mario Flecha Gallery, Islington
1981 Islington Central Library
OPEN EXHIBITIONS
2012 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
2012 & 16 East Sussex Open, Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne
2011 East Sussex Open, Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne
2010 Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
2009 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
2008 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
2007 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
2004 New English Art Club, Mall Galleries, London
2003 New English Art Club, Mall Galleries, London
2001 Royal West of England Academy Autumn Exhibition
1998 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1997 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1996 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1995 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1993 Small Works, University Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne
1990 Northern Printmaking, Billingham Art Gallery
1989 Small Works, Polytechnic Gallery, Newcastle
1989 Hatton Gallery Open, Newcastle University
1988 Bankside Open Printmaking Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London
1985 Tyne Tees Northern Open Exhibition, Sunderland Arts Centre and touring exhibition
1984 GLC Spirit of London Exhibition, Royal Festival Hall
1984 Crouch End Arts Festival Exhibition, London
1984 Royal Overseas League, Overseas House, London
1983 GLC Spirit of London Exhibition, Royal Festival Hall
1983 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 ‘Painted from life’, Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea
2019 'Observation to Materialisation' Birley Centre, Eastbourne, East Sussex.
2019 'Stillness' Birley Centre, Eastbourne, East Sussex.
2017 'Stillness' The Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea
2015 'Still life' Rowley Gallery, London
2013 'Landscape' Rowley Gallery, London
2012 'Stand Alone' Electro Studios Project Space, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex
2004-11 Havelock Walk Open Studios, Forest Hill, London
2003 Green Man Gallery, Eastbourne
2001 Art & Glass Studio, Eastbourne
1995 Zillah Bell Contemporary Art, Thirsk, North Yorkshire
1995 Artist in Focus, Middlesbrough Art Gallery
1992 'Paintings, prints and drawings' Cleveland College of Art & Design Gallery, Middlesbrough
1991 Galerie du Relais, Horgen, Zurich
1989 DLI Museum and Arts Centre, Durham City
1985 Long Gallery, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Fine Art Department