"Spaciousness, balance, natural vitality and an appreciation of present-moment awareness"
David Rycroft is an English painter working in England and France. Educated in art and art history at Eton College and Edinburgh University, David received his first national art award aged 19. He taught art in London for ten years until 2005. Since then he has been painting in the south of France. His atelier is in a medieval village in the hills behind Montpellier.
To celebrate 40 years of its Man and Biosphere programme, UNESCO presented an exhibition of David Rycroft's paintings in Paris in 2011. He developed an innovative technique of liquid oil paint on card, creating sculptural vistas of intriguing luminosity. These works communicate an appreciation of the natural world and the preciousness of our place within it.
David's work currently falls into two categories:
A series of large panoramic oil-on-canvas cityscapes in the landscape tradition. These panoramic compositions celebrate classical architecture and the colourful human presence that animates these luminous spaces.
A series of abstract works exploring the contemplative potential of painting, and bringing together some key artistic principles — naturalness, vitality, spontaneity and precision.
Awards & Competitions
1996 Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, Mall Galleries, London
1993 Spectator Art Award, Christies, London
1992 Laing Landscape Competition, Mall Galleries, London
1990 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
