Under the Canopy Painting

I moved to Barcelona shortly after completing my degree enthused by the light and cultural dynamism of the Catalan capital. I was born in London but spent my formative years growing up in Lyme Regis, England. I moved back to London in the early 90’s to do a Foundation at Chelsea Art College. I studied sculpture at the Hornsey Art College in North London, whose alumni include Richard Wilson, Richard Wentworth and Anish Kapoor including an Erasmus sculpture programme at Valencia University. Once in Spain I returned to my practice and spent time designing bespoke furniture mainly from steel and wood and working in Interior Design. I set up an artist’s group in a shared studio space. In 2009 I had my first solo show with Tasneem Gallery in Barcelona and then moved to a large studio next to Tapies’ studio in the bohemian Gracia area of the city. My work grew in size and commissions for paintings became a fundamental part of my practice often working with local architects and International clients who walked past my studio. I was awarded the Artist in Residence at The Boat Building Academy, Lyme Regis 2010/2012 a mutually beneficial working experience where the line between craft, sculpture and painting became further blurred for me. I have a long standing relationship with the Russell Gallery in London, Villa del Arte in Barcelona and the Nordic Art Agency, Sweden. I show at art fairs from Singapore to New York and London 'Behind all surfaces exists a previously unseen world. When we dare to peel back the superficial layer we find intrigue, secrets, desires, rust, marrow and molecules. These inner layers are harder to access. They require time, patience, analysis and sharpened skills. These layers are like precious amethyst troves hidden under rough, grey surfaces. Furthermore, said layers are essential to the structure and stability of all things living and inanimate. Chelsea Davine’s resounding work explores these unseen structural layers by giving them a well deserved attention. She urges us to delve and go beyond the veneers and exteriors in search of simple, quotidian beauty. This body of work, documented on steel and canvass— two natural and industrial elements whose uses vary from utilitarian to aesthetic—, is derived from the five classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Aether.