David Axtell
David Axtell
Wadebridge, Cornwall, United Kingdom
About David Axtell
Brought up in Oxford and currently residing in Cornwall. Working as a Freelance Illustrator and as a Commercial Artist in Oils on canvas and wooden panels. With an interest in the relationship and interaction between people and the sea. David works with a narrative that pulls in the viewer by using figurative subjects. Inspired by Pulchrum - 'The Power of Beauty' and in Remodernism. His paintings are caught somewhere between the solitude evident in an Edward Hopper painting with local insights reminiscent of the Newlyn School of artists. Some works as an Illustrator - Bovril Revival 2010/11 campaign, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry book cover (Puffin at 70), George Harrison portrait for Mojo magazine, Fruits by Valerie Bloom MBE (1997 Nestle Smarties Book Award - Bronze medal winner), We're Going on a Lionhunt (Macmillan/Henry Holt USA) & The Ice Bears Cave by Mark Haddon (Harpercollins Children's books) Illustrations in CONTACT source books 28,24,22,19,15,14,13,12 & 11 Runner-up in the BFC Mother Goose Award 1998 for 'Fruits' published by Macmillan Children's Books (Winner Mary Fedden for Motley the Cat by Susannah Amoore) Panel of Judges : Ian Beck, Joyce Dunbar, Wendy Cooling, Chris Powling, Tony Ross, Paul Hegarty & Jill Shotover. Winner of the Smarties Bronze medal Award 1997 for 'Fruits - A Caribbean Counting Poem' by Valerie Bloom (Venue held at London Zoo with winners John Agard, Valerie Bloom, Michael Foreman, Simon James, Anthony Lewis, Jenny Nimmo, J.K. Rowling & Charlotte Veoke. Awards presented by Toby Anstis)
Education:
Falmouth School of Art & Design
Banbury College of Art
Events:
2018
250th Royal Academy Exhibition - The Inspection: Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un inspecting Lady Gaga's Homage to Duchamp Urinal selected for this years RA Summer Exhibition Burlington House Piccadilly 12th June -19th August
2017
Imagine Falmouth – Falmouth Art Gallery 11th Nov - 20th Jan 2018
FAKE exhibition (Curated members show) CMR Projectspace Redruth 5th - 8th Oct & 15th
The Salthouse Gallery Exhibition of Paintings (St. Ives) Sept 23rd - 29th
Pop Up Poly Studios The Poly Falmouth 29th May - 4th June
Everything is F**ked CMRProjectSpace Redruth Feb 25th - 27th
2016
Inland Art Festival 'Prospect' CMR Projectspace Redruth Oct 21st - 23rd
RCPS Summer show (The Poly Falmouth) Aug 12th -22nd
Imagine Falmouth - Falmouth Art Gallery 27th May - 16th July
Inspirations & Interpretations The Poly Falmouth 2nd June - 12th June
2015
19th -27th May State of Play Falmouth Poly
Redwing Gallery (Penzance) 'Austerity' readymades & assemblages 2nd - 29th May
2014
In the summertime : May 27th -2nd June The Poly, Falmouth
Summer sons
Showcase of paintings
2013
Battersea Affordable Art Fair 24th-27th October - Lighthouse Gallery
Mixed exhibition - The Poly Falmouth 15th-21st October
St. Ives Festival 14th-28th September - entry for postcard auction by the Rotary club taking place at St Ives School of painting (20th-22nd)
Bookmarks XI : '100 Destinations' September 23rd 2013 - February 2014 for the School of Creative Arts Bristol bookarts.uwe.ac.uk
The Royal Polytechnic Summer Show 29th July - 12th August Main Gallery (Falmouth)
Art in Action 18th - 21st July Waterperry House and Gardens Nr. Oxford
(Attending as an exhibiting Illustrator)
Secret Art for Aid 14th - 20th June at Beside the Wave Gallery (Falmouth)
Seven Shades of Summer (Solo exhibition) - The Poly Spring Gallery 7th -13th May (Falmouth)
Parallax Art Fair - Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Rd 21st -23rd February
Balman Gallery Spring Show 16th February - 1st April 'Rock Icon Portraits' (Corbridge)
Artbelow Underground Poster : Cloud 9 (Portrait of John Lennon) 11th - 25th February Located at St. John's Wood Station
Vogue March issue Wall of Fame Art no.33 Ad
AOI Portfolios.com January featured Illustration Artist
2012
Affordable Art Fair Battersea London 25th - 28th October (Lighthouse Gallery)
Bristol Art Fair 18th - 20th May
2011
Edinburgh Art Fair 17th - 20th November (Demelzas Gallery)
Art Below : September 5th - October 3rd
Underground Poster at Charing Cross Station BP Portrait competition entry 2010
Art in the City : Artist in residence for the day at Truro Arts (April)
Exhibitions:
2018
250th Royal Academy Exhibition - The Inspectors: Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un inspecting Lady Gaga's Homage to Duchamp Urinal selected for this years RA Summer Exhibition (Coordinated by Grayson Perry) Burlington House Piccadilly 12th June -19th August
2017
Imagine Falmouth – Falmouth Art Gallery 11th Nov - 20th Jan 2018
FAKE exhibition (Curated members show) CMR Projectspace Redruth 5th - 8th Oct & 15th
The Salthouse Gallery Exhibition of Paintings (St. Ives) Sept 23rd - 29th
Pop Up Poly Studios The Poly Falmouth 29th May - 4th June
Everything is F**ked CMRProjectSpace Redruth Feb 25th - 27th
2016
Penwith Associates Show 19th Nov – Jan 7th 2017
Inland Art Festival 'Prospect' CMR Projectspace Redruth Oct 21st - 23rd
Interpretation and Inspirations : The Poly Falmouth 6th - 11th June
Imagine Falmouth - Falmouth Art gallery 27th May - 16th July
Spring Exhibition Tregony Gallery
2015
Affordable August Penwith Society of Artists (Associate member) St.Ives
RCPS Summer Exhibition (The Poly Falmouth) Aug 13th-29th
EVOCATION Portraits at Pizza Express Falmouth Aug 3rd-16th
State of Play The Poly Falmouth 19th - 25th May
Redwing Gallery 'Austerity' exhibition 2nd - 27th May
Bedroom Tax & Austerity show April (CMR Redruth)
2014
St Ives postcard sale Sept 21st
Summer exhibition Russell Gallery Putney London
Summer exhibition Lighthouse Gallery (Penzance)
The Poly Summer show August 3rd-16th (Falmouth)
In the summertime : May 27th -2nd June The Poly, Falmouth
Summer sons - lotus flowers - eulimene love & postcards from the edge
2013
F.A.M.E. 15th-21st October 'Fragment. Arrangement. Moment. Exhibition Falmouth RCPS (The Poly)
Waterside Gallery St. Ives Festival 14th-28th September
The Lighthouse Gallery A Cornish summer show August 1st - 31st
The Royal Polytechnic Society Summer Show 29th July - 12th August
Falmouth Poly - 'Seven Shades of Summer' 7th-13th May (First solo show)
Bristol Art Fair 26th-28th April Lighthouse Gallery
6th Parallax Art Fair : Chelsea Old Town Hall London 21st-23rd February Seven paintings
Balman Gallery Spring Exhibition - Rock Icon Portrait paintings (Corbridge)
February 16th - 1st April
2012
Behind the Scenes 20th - 25th Sept Mixed exhibition Cornwall Art studios (Wadebridge)
'A Cornish Summer' – The Lighthouse Gallery 14th July - 14th September
Bristol Art Fair 18th - 20th May Lighthouse Gallery
2011
Edinburgh Art Fair 17th - 20th November with Demelzas Gallery (Falmouth)
Artbelow 5th September to 3rd October (Underground poster at Charing Cross)
'Happy Days Summer Exhibition' - Lighthouse Gallery (Penzance) 20th July-16th Sept
Bell Fine Art (Winchester) Marine Exhibition 25th June to 23rd July
Bristol Art Fair Lighthouse Gallery
2010
Lander Gallery 'Reflections' Spring show April 2010
2007-09 Lighthouse Gallery (Truro)
Paintings first shown in Throgmorton Bar and Restaurant 2006 London