Artist Exhibitions

from Mycreativeimages Magazine - March 2021

Vivien Capper

This month David Walker kindly agreed to shared some of his experiences with entering exhibitions, which is all part of parcel of becoming an established photographer / photo-artist. His artwork “Perhaps the Most Beautiful Resting Place in the World?” was shortlisted for the 2018 Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition.

The artwork was on a canvas 120cm by 80cm, which made for an interesting experience when taking it in person to the Academy using the train and underground!

Unfortunately, despite his adventure transporting his artwork to the exhibition Davids artwork did not make it to the final exhibition but revels in the status of “short-listed - not hung”! The original photograph is of Laide, a small village in the northwest of the Highlands of Scotland, looking out over Gruinard Bay towards the peaks of An Tellach. A truly beautiful part of the British Isles.

Perhaps the Most Beautiful Resting Place in the World?

The work is enhanced (perhaps more accurately “embellished”) by Ann Slim, a local friend and artist, who incorporates minor colour touches in acrylic media, where appropriate, followed by an overall covering in clear acrylic which adds further brush marks and depth. The whole work is then varnished in the traditional way. This embellishment creates a unique finish to the art.

Just to turn up at the Academy during the very limited period was exciting in itself. There are several thousands of pieces submitted and perhaps only 1,000 are short-listed and then about 75% make it to the final exhibition. Artists and the Press make for a busy and intriguing atmosphere. This enhanced Davids hunger to continue to find more similar venues to display his art in.

As a result David has made further submissions in 2019 and 2020 “Stayin’ Alive, say NO to KNIVES” (a joint entry with the Knife Angel Sculptor Alfie Bradley) and “Mara Dawn and the Disappearing Elephants” but neither made the short-list. Both entries were embellished by Ann Slim.

For new works, David has taken to undertaking the embellishment process himself.

Stayin’ Alive, say NO to KNIVES

• Curborough Festival of Artists • Several Local Hostelries (one permanent display, about 10 limited displays) • Three Local Libraries • Local Restaurants • Local Supermarket • Antique Shops • Local Fetes • Local Church • Local School • Local Galleries

Works have been published in the following media • Widnes RUFC Annual Programme • Lichfield Mercury • Living the Photo Artistic Life • The Fisherman • Creative B&W Artistry • Heaven Art Gallery • Orenda Gallery • Pepino • My Creative Images magazine