David Starley

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Artist Name: David Starley

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Tuition

I occasionally give demonstrations to local art groups. Also during January and feb. of 2011, I hope to be working in the Butterfly Rooms in Saltaire, and would welcome visitors

Biography

David Starley
Saltaire Artist

I first studied art at Sydney University whilst working in a steel foundry. Although I then chose to follow a career in archaeology, I continued to develop my painting skills in various media and now derive most of my living from selling my work.

Travel has been a major theme in my life and, combined with my interest in ancient sites, many pictures reflect his fascination with the architectural remains of past civilizations. A major inspiration has been the 19th century landscape artist, David Roberts. Sketch pad in hand, I revisited many of the Middle Eastern sites portrayed by Roberts.

As a resident of Saltaire, West Yorkshire I turned my attention to the architectural legacy of Lockwood and Mawson and my series of Saltaire oils depict the village at those first and last moments of a cloudless day when the sun lights the stone with a rich intensity reminiscent of more ancient World Heritage sites.

Recent exhibition work features the prehistoric and later rock art and monuments of Rombald's Moor, which together with other sites in the vicinity comprise one of the most important rock art groups in Europe. Most including the Haystack, Badger and Willy Hall's Wood stones have designs dating to the Bronze Age, at which time the stone circle of the Twelve Apostles was also constructed. Cowper's Cross marks the site of a medieval market (though why this exposed site was chosen is a mystery to me!). Finally, the Cow and Calf rocks (which I once swore never to paint, but here it is!) remains a favourite site for visitors and graffiti ‘artists' to the present day.

The series of meadow and woodland flora is sold at a number of galleries locally including Tamara Lawson's Gallery in Ilkley, the Anstey Gallery in Harrogate and Fractal Press Gallery in Grassington.

Exhibitions

Currently exhibiting at Anstee Gallery, Ilkley & Harrogate

Harrington Lord Gallery, Brighouse

Fractal Press gallery, Grassington (3 wildflower views)

Ongoing display and open studio. Butterfly Rooms, 73 Bingley Rd, Saltaire

Conways Arts and Crafts, Keighley (couple of works only)

23 Aug to 2 Oct 2011 Major Dales High Way Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Nr Hutton in the Forest, Penrith

10 Sept. 2011 Saltaire Festival Maker's Fair. Display, sales and demo

4 Nov- 17 Dec Dales High Way Exhibition, Butterfly Rooms, Saltaire

12-13 Nov 2011 Headingley Art Trail (venue tbc)

12-24 Dec 2011 Shipley Library

29 Dec 2011 to 5 Feb 2012 Vicars Cafe, Saltaire

May-June 2012 Half Moon Cafe, Roberts Park, Saltaire

5-7 May 2012 Saltaire Arts Trail (I'm at 75 Albert Rd)

Aug-Sept 2012 The Old Tramshed, Saltaire (tbc)