David Pilgrim (ROI) was born in 1975 and is an award-winning professional artist with passion for painting in oils. He enjoys working with a diverse range of subject matter and materials in order to maintain a freshness and vitality in his paintings and drawings.
David studied fine art as part of a joint degree course (the other half was in pure mathematics) at Aberystwyth University and continued to paint whilst working as a web developer in the IT sector. Having now made the shift towards working as a full-time artist, David is now able to fully devote his time and energy to his painting practice and take further strides in developing his work.
Ideas are sparked on location with drawings and plein-air paint studies which can have the potential to be developed into more resolved pieces back in the studio. Sometimes there’s little more to say beyond the original statement and the work needs no further development. This approach has enabled David to hone his observational and technical skills whilst encouraging a greater connection and understanding of the subject.
The energy that comes from the original moment is a vital element in his work. Location work can be intensive (especially when it’s cold or windy!) but immensely rewarding and challenging. The intention is to capture the very essence of the experience of ‘being there’, in that moment, and bring this to the viewer through the painting.
In December 2012 David was delighted to be elected as a full member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters which represents many of the finest oil painters in the UK today. Standards are very high so it is a real honour to be elected by such an esteemed art society with many members being artists that David holds in very high regard.
David currently has work represented with the Adrian Hill Fine Art where he shows and sells paintings at their wonderful galleries in both Holt and Stamford. Work is also displayed annually at the ROI exhibition with the Mall Galleries in central London.
If you would like to contact David directly about work that he has available from his studio then please do get in touch. Studio visits are also very welcome by prior arrangement.
- Winner of the Dartington Crystal Chalice in recognition of outstanding service to the ROI, 2020
- Winner of the Frank Herring Easel award for the painting ‘Old Harry and the blues’ at the ROI annual exhibtion, 2019
- Winner of the Le Clerc Fowl medal for outstanding group of paintings at the ROI annual exhibition, 2018
- Winner of the Buxton Spa open competition runner’s up prize (2015)
- Winner of ‘Best plein air painting and ‘Best small painting’ prizes at the Bath prize open competition (2010)
- Selected by the BBC to be one of a group of artists to paint the Dimaond Jubilee Pageant from the Millennium bridge (May 2012). Filming was broadcast live as part of the BBC’s coverage of the event.
- Featured in an article describing the plein air painting trip to Sennen, Cornwall (May 2011) in the online edition of the quarterly Plein Air magazine, published in the USA.
- Featured in an article on the Plein Air Brotherhood in the September 2011 edition of
The Artist magazine. Also pictured painting on the beach on the front cover.
- David has written a full article (including two step by step demonstrations) on his approach to painting outdoors (plein air) which can be seen in the July 2009 edition of The Artist magazine.
- David has written a full article (including two step by step demonstrations) on his approach to painting seascapes in oils which can be seen in the July 2007 edition of The Artist magazine.
- David was featured in the May 2006 edition of the art trade magazine called ‘Blank Canvas’, published by ‘Picture Business’. The publication is circulated to the main UK galleries and framers.
- During the summer of 2005 David took part in the ITV1 art programme ‘A Brush With Fame’ and was a regional finalist for the Midlands. The challenge was to paint celebrity portraits (Anthony Worral Thompson and Jilly Goulding) in the short space of 3 hours. The whole experience was great fun and opened up some new possibilities for David to consider in terms of portraiture.
