DAVID SHILLINGLAW ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
London based artist David Shillinglaw was born of British parents in 1982 in the Middle East, which may explain his thirst for travel and exhibiting in galleries worldwide. Since graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2002 he has exhibited in galleries in Japan, China, The Gambia, Holland, and key cities such as NY, London, Berlin, and Istanbul.
David Shillinglaw is a British painter and muralist, known for his works which explore human nature, success and failure, and language people use in the context of their experiences. David grew up in London. He was interested in art since childhood, as he used to doodle and draw his favourite cartoon characters all the time. Soon he realized that a career in art is the one he needs to pursue, and he started his education at Central Saint Martins in London, eventually graduating from it in 2002.
The comics and cartoons were Shillinglaw’s earliest influences, and they continue affecting his style to this day. His art also draws from Ancient Egypt, and he appreciates children’s drawings, as he thinks that children have a completely different perspective on the world that adults do. Another thing that dictates David’s style is the medium he uses. Shillinglaw often changes his mediums, as he believes that fresh new ideas come from the constant growth and development of his artistic expression. He sees his body of work as a whole, with each new piece only adding to it.
When painting, David Shillinglaw taps into his past experiences and travels in search for inspiration. He draws from the places he visited, people he met, and most importantly – times when he got lost. Losing oneself is a great motivator for David as an artist. While we are finding our ways back to safety, we are also finding our true selves, thus growing and really knowing the beauty of life and the world around us. Language here plays an integral part of the whole experience – if we don’t know it, then we reach for the more abstract ways to communicate in order to be found again, which is the point of the entire process.
“I’m constantly acquiring new knowledge; I’ll read an article in a newspaper or watch a video on the internet and find that gives me an idea. The variety of materials I choose to use can also change my work.” - David Shillinglaw