Artists > David Cobley

David was born in Northampton, England in 1954. He completed his foundation year there, but dropped out of a diploma course at Liverpool in a search of a more meaningful alternative. It was 12 years before he would return to any kind of painting.

After travelling around Europe he went on to work and study in Japan. On returning to England in 1985 he freelanced as an illustrator and visualiser, but continued to draw and paint in his spare time. After being short-listed for the BP Portrait Award (then sponsored by John Player) commissioned portraits and paintings of the figure gradually took the place of illustration.

Since becoming a full-time painter, he has carried out commissions for a wide variety of institutions, and has had several solo exhibitions, the most recent with Messum's in London. He is working towards more solo exhibitions, and also on a number of public and private commissions.

Exhibitions
Selected Group Exhibitions
- The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2001, 2002, 2003,
2005
- The Royal Society of Portrait Painters 1989, 1995, 1997 to
the present
- The Royal West of England Academy 1989 to 1994, 1996 to
the present
- The New English Art Club 2000, 2001, 2003 to the present
- NAKED at The Royal West of England Academy 2004
- The Holburne Portrait Prize 2002, 2004
- The Discerning Eye 1998, 2000, 2001
- The RP Selection at The National Portrait Gallery 2000
- People's Portraits (touring exhibition) 2000
- The Hunting Art Prizes 1999, 2005
- The BP Portrait Award 1995
- The John Player Portrait Award 1989
- The Metropolitan Museum, Tokyo 1982

Solo Exhibitions
- Messum’s 2005
- Beaux Arts Bath 2002, 2004
- Widcombe Studios 1997

Public Collections
The National Portrait Gallery
The Victoria Gallery, Bath

Awards

Llewellyn Alexander Award 2004
Public Prize, The Holburne Portrait Prize 2004
Prosigns and Graphics Prize 2002
Andrew Brownsword Prize 2001
Daler-Rowney Prize and RWA Public Prize 1999
RWA Tom Rice Gallery, Dublin, Award 1999
John Brandler Prize 1993
Short-listed, John Player Portrait Award 1989

Commissions

The Princess Royal Princess Anne, Steven Berkoff, Richard Briers, Ken Dodd OBE, Sir Norman Fowler, Dame Alicia Markova, The Lord Mayor of London, Sir Timothy Sainsbury, The Dean of Westminster, English National Ballet, Exeter College, The National Society for Epilepsy, The Royal Horse Artillery, The Royal Engineers, The Royal Marines, The Royal Navy, The Institution of Civil Engineers, among others.