David Manners

David Manners is a contemporary painter based in Lyme Regis, working primarily in oil with a focus on portraiture, musicians, and coastal subjects. His practice is defined by controlled chiaroscuro and a cinematic sense of atmosphere, creating intimate works that explore concentration, stillness, and the emotional interiority of his sitters. Manners’ portraits often depict musicians in moments of absorbed focus, revealing the psychological tension between performance and introspection.
His work has been recognised within the artistic and literary heritage of Lyme Regis, appearing in cultural listings alongside J.M.W. Turner, James McNeill Whistler, Sir Laurence Whistler, John Fowles, and Beatrix Potter. These associations position Manners within a longstanding regional tradition of artists who use light, mood, and close observation to interpret the town’s distinctive environment.
Critics have likened Manners’ atmospheric approach to the psychological stillness of Edward Hopper and the narrative clarity of Jack Vettriano, situating his practice within a contemporary figurative lineage that blends emotional depth with accessible storytelling. His paintings are held in private collections across the UK and internationally, with growin...

B.Mus(Hons), 1979-1982 University of Sheffield
Cert.Ed 1982-1983 University of Exeter
B.Sc 1986-89 Mathematics Open University

The Shore to Shore Gallery, Wilmington NC, USA. Permanent gallery exhibition.
the Luis Cesar Herrera Quinones Gallery, Durango, Mexico
Chelsea Old Town Hall, London
Beurs Van Berlage, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The Kaya Gallery, Plymouth, Devon.
The Townmill Gallery, Lyme Regis.