About the Artist

About David Sandell

Portrait and landscape artist

As an award-winning artist, David works primarily in oils, pastel and pencil on portrait commissions, original oil paintings and limited edition prints. His background as an illustrator, designer and creative director was built on the ability to draw and sketch well. His commercial art and design experience covering over 40 years informs his current work but also enables him to share his knowledge through art classes and workshops. Although he has employed various types of media to produce art, he has focused on his main interests of drawing and oil painting over the last 15 years.

Media & methodology

David’s process is broadly based on classical methods and he tends to follow a similar process for drawing and painting; developing the coloured pencil drawing or oil painting as a whole in stages rather than completing small sections. Although known for his treatment of detail, his pencil portraits often involve surprisingly few colours to achieve a convincing drawing. He uses coloured pencil to develop ideas for paintings; however, these drawings often become finished pieces in their own right and purchased by collectors.

Background

Until recently his time was split between managing a design agency and his art studio but over the years he has completed various commissions for major banks, art materials manufacturers, the armed forces and numerous private collectors. Although he doesn’t consider his work mainstream and accepts he is probably influenced by his time as an illustrator, his work has been recognised with various awards:

  • Shortlisted in 2014 for ‘Artist of the Year’ by Artist & Illustrator magazine (Mall Galleries, London).

  • Voted Top 100 Artists/Illustrators 2014 by ‘Creative Quarterly’ USA.

  • International Artist magazine published a major 8 page feature on his work in 2010 and again in 2020.

  • Finalist in 2015 International Portrait Awards, Atlanta USA.

  • Selected for Strokes of Genius six times, annual publication celebrating the best of drawing.

  • Various UK Colour Pencil Society awards including: Best in Show, Runner up Best in Show, Peoples Choice Award and Presidents Award.

  • Featured in various international art publications.

He was one of the founders of Triad Limited established in 1988, with design studios at Holdenby House stately home, in Northamptonshire. (www.triad.uk.com)

Purpose

 “Art is a core part my life, I think about ideas for my work constantly. Walking in the English countryside near my home helps me think and allows ideas to form in my mind. In the studio, apart from music, my only companion is Claude, our large black cat, who has the stare of a panther with the heart of a Labrador, he follows me around the garden when not sleeping. He’s probably my harshest critic but I’ve learned to ignore his reactions to my work”.

“I get a great deal of pleasure from seeing peoples reaction to my work, whether its revealing a portrait commission or delivering an original painting, I take my responsibility very seriously to deliver something meaningful”.

Accreditations & Memberships

  • International Member of the Portrait Society of America

  • Member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art

  • Signature Member of the UKCPS

Artist’s Statement

Although I paint in oils, I believe the initial drawing is everything. Whether it’s from life or photographic reference, it’s essential to have an understanding of form. I trained as an illustrator and designer and over the years I’ve drawn or painted pretty much every subject you can think of and have worked with all sorts of materials from airbrush to pen and ink.

I have always enjoyed helping artists and designers to develop their drawing skills, hosting workshops in the USA and UK and I currently run local art workshops. I believe helping people to understand the essentials of drawing prepares them to draw anything they want to. I care how people respond to my work and I take the trust placed in me by commissioning clients very seriously; revealing a portrait commission is always a big moment.

The human face continues to fascinate me as a ‘manifestation of self’ and its potential to subtly communicate in ways that we don’t always appreciate - this is what makes portraiture so interesting. Skin has a delicate beauty and like the sea has a translucent quality, which is why we observe so many colours influenced by what lies beneath it.

 If you wish to discuss any ideas you have for an original piece of art or even a print as a gift or memento for someone special, please contact me by email: info@davidsandell.co.uk  or call: 07801 457515.