David Armstrong

Artistic background

After leaving a successful 29-year career in the family construction business, I have turned my focus towards my passion for art and my role as a foster parent.

Whilst having some formal art training, I consider myself to be largely self-educated, which has allowed me to develop my unique style. My paintings generally feature a combination of real and imagined scenes in an approach that is a merger of representational and figurative combined with a splash of abstract.

My home and studio is in Chester le Street, County Durham. An area that is a great source of inspiration for my work, with its beautiful rugged coastline to the East and picturesque dales and vales to the West.

Working primarily with acrylics my paintings feature strong tones and a harmonious muted palette. I strive to capture simple yet striking scenes, which convey the mood and atmosphere of the landscapes I paint. With my art I try to evoke a sense of nostalgia and a longing for a simpler time, a time when nature was still unspoiled and serene.

Quote

When I paint a scene I try to imagine it as a theatre set. Rather than creating a facsimile of the world, I try to convey a sense of time, place and my own emotions.

Interests

Apart from my paintings, I make wire crafted wedding table decorations.
I also enjoy some less tranquil activities such as Karate, Football, Skiing and Mountain Biking.
Not forgetting walking and gathering resources with my neurotic Cockapoo Charlie.