Tapiola (after Siberius) 125 x 200cm
Abstract Painter in East Sussex
“There is no doubt in my mind that he is a supreme colourist”
– Phillip King, PPRA
David Armitage stands as an abstract painter in East Sussex with an international reputation. He draws inspiration from the scale and colour of the Australian landscape, his love of music and an appreciation for obsolete religious spaces. He has created works that have gone on be exhibited internationally.
Yet all these varied inspirations, in the end, provide both a backdrop and an enrichment for David's primary passion and source of fame, that being colour. The exploration of both colour and the medium of paint itself is David's driving impetus, just as it was for the Abstract Expressionists.
Being an abstract painter in East Sussex who has honed his craft over half a century, David's creation process is in equal parts planning and accidents. He has learnt to harness and work with the physical qualities of paint, knowing when to let it merge, stain or drip and when to rein it in and add detail.
“The primacy of colour is everything to me in painting, and that is what I respond to in recent art history, the works of Van Gough, Gaugin, Bonnard, Matisse, Miro and the Americans. I remember looking at Rothko when I was a student. I'd never seen anything so wonderful. As someone said, the paintings appear to be lit from within.”
For a sample of David's finest paintings from his 50+ year portfolio, please take a look at our gallery page.
A Short Biography
Born in Tasmania in 1943, David Armitage's life as a contemporary artist would commence with his studies at the royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He would lecture in life drawing and portraiture during his final year.
In 1967 he moved to New Zealand with his wife Ronda, and took up the post of Exhibition's Officer at Auckland City Art Gallery, curating national and international exhibits.
Finally, he would move to the United Kingdom in 1974 to continue his art practice, illustrating many successful children's books authored by his wife Ronda. He currently calls the picturesque town of East Hoathly, East Sussex home.
David has enjoyed much success over his storied career as an internationally-renowned contemporary Artist in East Sussex, garnering respect from fellow artists and critics alike. His works have been exhibited and sold widely, from London to Liverpool to Auckland to Montreal.
If you have any questions or queries you would like to ask David, please get in touch via our contact form.
Exhibitions
1968 – 1978 – Barry Lett Galleries, Auckland.
1971 – Palmerston North Art Gallery.
1973 – Survey exhibition touring N.Z. public galleries.
1988 – Beldesign, Cambridge.
1989 – Quay Arts Centre, Newport; One One Nine Gallery,London.
1992 – ADT College, London.
1993 – Duncan Campbell Contemporary Art, London.
1994 – Christ Hospital, Horsham.
1995 – Atlantis, London.
1996 – Mitre Gallery, Chichester; The Maltings, Farnham; The Hawth Arts Centre, Crawley.
1968 – 1978 – Barry Lett Galleries, Auckland.
1971 – Palmerston North Art Gallery.
1973 – Survey exhibition touring N.Z. public galleries.
1988 – Beldesign, Cambridge.
1989 – Quay Arts Centre, Newport; One One Nine Gallery,London.
1992 – ADT College, London.
1993 – Duncan Campbell Contemporary Art, London.
1994 – Christ Hospital, Horsham.
1995 – Atlantis, London.
1996 – Mitre Gallery, Chichester; The Maltings, Farnham; The Hawth Arts Centre, Crawley.
Group Exhibitions
1966 - 1978 – Assorted group exhibitions throughout New Zealand.
1972 – Bonython Gallery, Sydney.
1975 – New York; Young Artists 75.
1991 – John Gruzelier Modern and Contemporary Art, Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, Gardner Arts Centre, University of Sussex.
1998 & 1999 – Rye Gallery, Star Gallery, Lewes: Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne.
1999 & 2000 – A Millenium Exhibition, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
2001 – Sussex Artists, Abbeville Festival, France; Parkview Fine Paintings, Bristol.
2002 – Bettie Morton Gallery, Brixton; Duncan and Jordanstone College, Dundee.
2003 – Australian High Commission, London.
2008 – Farleys Farm Gallery, Chiddingly, East Sussex.
2009 – Oxford Union debate on conceptual art.
2010 – Modern Artists Gallery, Oxon.
2011 – Farleys Farm Gallery, Chiddingly, East Sussex.
2012 - Gallery Gora, Montreal
Phone
01825 873 477David Armitage