Martin Davis

Martin is a former firefighter and a self-taught artist. After university in 1976 he enjoyed a 30 year career in the fire & rescue service, and continued to paint as an antidote to the stresses of his operational working life. In 2008 after his retirement he committed himself fully to art and has since then been developing his technique and finding his own artistic voice.


As a painter in oils/acrylic Martin’s output can be diverse & wide-ranging. Apart from his current focus on still life it often includes landscapes & urban scenes to more figurative/abstract work and commissioned portraiture. But whatever the subject matter his painterly style is characterized by a trademark vibrancy of colour and attention to fine detail, sometimes accompanied by a slightly surreal twist.


He is a member of the Visual Artists’ Association and was previously a founder member of the Derbyshire Artists’ Guild. His work has in the past been selected for the prestigious ING Discerning Eye exhibition (2020) and twice for the Harley Open (2020 and 2024). In 2022 the quality of his work was recognized by the Royal Academy and was selected, by Sir Grayson Perry no less, for their Summer Exhibition of that year. In 2023 his self-portrait Selfie III wa...

I graduated in Economics from the University of Birmingham in 1976 and, after a brief spell in finance, I went on to complete over 30 years in the UK fire & rescue service. Although I never really stopped painting I only turned fully to art after my retirement in 2008. Only then, having already brought up a family and completed a demanding & full career, could I find the time I needed to devote to it.
Artistically I am almost entirely self taught with no formal training beyond school. I still consider myself a student practicing art, and probably I always will. I may never reach the point where I can say “now I'm a real artist”, but then my art has always been more about the journey than the end product, something I am comfortable with.

4th-30th March 2016, "A Spring gathering" (Hornshaw Gallery)
Brick Lane Gallery Annexe
London E1

20th Aug-17th Sept 2016 "Midlands Open Exhibition", Tarpey Gallery, Derbys UK

Pentrich Revolution Bicentenary Group Exhibition 2017, various locations throughout the year Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire

Buxton Spa Prize Exhibition, The Green Man Gallery, Hardwick Square South, Buxton, Derbys. 1st – 31st July 2017

“Figures”, 4th solo exhibition Leabrooks Arts Complex, Leabrooks Road, Alfreton, Derbys. 16th – 29th September 2017

"Behind the smile" group exhibition, Banks Mill Studios, Derby Feb/March 2018

Great Sheffield Art Show 2019, Open exhibition, Millennium Gallery, Sheffield.
November 2019

Post Covid exhibition, Courtney Gallery, Ashbourne, Derbys 15th June- 25th July

"Resilient self" - curated group exhibition of self portraits at Espacio Gallery, Bethnal Green Road, London E2 7DG from 30th July - 7th August 2020. Prize winner in exhibition.

Harley Open 2020, The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Notts 1st Aug-1st Nov

ING Discerning Eye 2020, curated group exhibition, 19th Nov - 31st Dec

Salon Contemporary Arts, Derby 2022
13-16th June

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2022
21st June -...