David Undery, Artists Profile

After graduating from Southampton Institute of Higher Education in 1997 with a higher second-class honours degree in Fine Art, David wasted no time in developing his fine art career. His work has been selected for exhibitions in a number of galleries across the UK. In addition he has undertaken numerous commissions.
For many, there is an intrigue as to what inspires David to produce his work. "I started as a figurative painter in oils. I had moved from the country life of Hertfordshire to the urban area of Southampton, and couldn't help but be affected by my new surroundings. Soon I found that instead of figurative work, I was painting landscapes of Southampton and the buildings in the area. It was only a matter of time before my cityscapes were to contain cement dust in them as a pigment. I realised that the elements that excited me most were the concrete panels - from then on, cement became the medium of my choice." David goes on to explain "This is the reason why I describe my work as 'abstract paintings in concrete'."

David's work crosses the boundaries between painting and sculpture to create wall hangings that combine lustrous colours with satin-soft or highly polished surfaces. Rough-cast and textured finishes are acid-etched, hand ground or carved. The creative addition of minerals and metals is both highly visual and extremely tactile. Through his own dedicated passion for concrete, David transforms this substance into a truly unique, aesthetic art form.

Highly developed production techniques mean that, despite their composition, each reinforced panel is remarkably lightweight, slim-line and has the durability for both interior and exterior use. "During years' of experience as an artist I have found the medium to be highly versatile allowing me to produce completely original and unique work. I am now applying knowledge I have gained to create striking aesthetic panels to match the contemporary mood of clients." says David.

He breaks away from the norm - that is why his work is already sought after. 'Paintings in concrete' are adorning the walls of many prestigious projects.

David is an innovator constantly creating new ideas. "My work is becoming more three dimensional. I am increasingly working with different textures which evoke new sensory experiences." His imagination is fired by urban life - with this rich seam of inspiration David is able to merge his source material with his own abundance of ideas and ambitions, to leave a lasting impression. "The longevity of this ancient substance interests me - I want my art to look as good in a hundred years as it does today."

David promotes through his own company - Artrageous. He has a proven ability to work closely with interior designers, architects, and corporate or private clients to create an inspired unique art form that interacts with the design concept.

Career Highlights:

2005 Commissioned by Andy Sturgeon to show on Gold Award Merrill Lynch garden at Chelsea Flower Show

2005 Nominated for Insight Award from Art and Business, South East

2004 Finalist at The Affordable Art Prize - "The Public Eye"

2003 By invitation, exhibited at "Discerning Eye" exhibition

Main Activities:

2006 Currently on garden design project with Andrew Wenham

2006 Working on private commission project

2006 July - exhibiting at FarmiloFiumani Gallery, Mayfair

2006 Completed private commission Leamington Spa

2006 Work selected for Buckenham Gallery, Southwold

2006 Showed at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea with Catherine Porter and FarmiloFiumano Galleries

2005 Commissioned by Readymix to produce the first concrete sculpture commemorating achievements gained by LaFarge

2005 Exhibited at ArtLondon, Chelsea with FarmiloFiumano Gallery, Mayfair

2005 Private commission in Warwick

2005 Showed at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea with Catherine Porter and FarmiloFiumano Galleries

2005 Selected by Art and Business for large corporate commission in Oxford and Dublin

2005 Invited by Andy Sturgeon ( Garden Designer/TV Personality) to show work in Merrill Lynch garden at Chelsea Flower Show 2005

2005 Completed private commission in Hong Kong

2005 Completed large Private Commission in Camberley

2005 Commissioned for sculpture upmarket pub/restaurant in Exeter

2004 Work in progress; 4 private commissions including export to Hong Kong

2004 Work sent to New York for AAF Contemporary Art Fair

2004 Exhibited at "On The Wall" exhibition, Olympia, London

2004 Exhibited at Will Ramsay's gallery Fulham, London. "Life in the City"

2004 Exhibited at "artLondon" Contemporary Art Fair, Chelsea

2004 Exhibiting at Walker Contemporary Gallery, Harrogate

2004 Exhibiting at Aldeburgh Contemporary Arts Gallery, Suffolk

2004 Work taken to Glasgow Art Fair with Will's Art Warehouse

2004 Showed in March at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea with Catherine Porter Gallery

2004 Showed at Art Van Go Gallery, Knebworth

2004 Completed second commission for well known chain of upmarket pubs/restaurants.

2004 Work sold to buyer in Kentucky, USA

2004 Commission for Chelsea Garden Gold Award Winner Julie Toll, in Kentish Town.

2003 Showed by invitation at Christmas Exhibition, FarmiloFiumano, Mayfair

2003 October - Showed, by invitation, work in Urban Interior Exhibition, Commonwealth Institute, London.

2003 November - Showed, by invitation, six pieces in "Discerning Eye" exhibition, Mall Galleries, London

2003 Commission for Interior Designer restaurant/bar

2003 Currently exhibiting at 2 man show "Feeling Between the Lines" at FarmiloFiumano, The Gallery, Connaught Street W1

2003 Currently working on commission for Joe Swift (Gardener's World TV personality)

2003 Exhibiting in March at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea

2003 Commission for London penthouse Westminster Bridge Road, SE1

2003 Work selected for Walker Gallery, Harrogate

2003 Commission for Bristol Penthouse

2002 Work exhibited at Blackheath Gallery, London

2002 Corporate commission for NuMasters.com- Buckingham Palace Road, London

2002 Corporate commission for Wills Art Warehouse opposite Royal Courts of Justice, London

2002 Exhibited at Collins and Hastie Gallery, Chelsea

2002 Work considered for Queen Mary 11 liner

2002 Work exhibited again at Plateaux Gallery SE1

2002 Exhibition at Wills Art Warehouse, Fulham

2002 Exhibition at The Maltby Gallery, Winchester

2002 Currently working with Interior Designer in London on project

2002 Private commission for USA collector

2002 Currently showing at XU Gallery, Birmingham

2002 Exhibited at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea

2002 Invited to exhibit work at opening of The Gallery, Beckenham, Kent

2002 Private commission Leamington Spa

2001 Work exhibited at opening of Gildenburgh Gallery, Peterborough

2001 Private commission Chichester, Sussex

2001 Exhibited at Plateaux Gallery, London

2001 Work exported to Milan Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.

2001 Commissioned to produce work for exhibitor at Chelsea Flower Show.

2001 Work exhibited at Huntingdon Contemporary Art, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

2001 Work exhibited at Chalk Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall. 2001 Work exhibited at XU Gallery, Leamington Spa.

2001 Work at On-Line Gallery, Southampton.

2001 Work selected for exhibition at The Place art gallery, Hertfordshire.

2000 Commissioned to produce work for London's exclusive "Alloro" restaurant, Mayfair, London.

2000 Commissioned to produce work for Private buyer in the Penthouse suite of the Lauderdale Towers, Barbican, London.

2000 Commissioned to produce work for Private buyer in Maida Vale, London.

2000 Work exported to Private buyer in Netherlands.

2000 Exhibited in Group show at XU Gallery, Leamington Spa.

2000 Exhibited in Group show at Plateaux Gallery, Tower Bridge, London.

1999 Exhibited in Group show at David Curson Gallery, Wimbledon, London.

1999 Exhibited in Group show at On-Line Gallery, Southampton.

1999 Work exported to Private buyer in Channel Islands.

1999 Exhibited in Group show at John Millais Gallery, Southampton.

1998 Exhibited in joint show at David Holmes Contemporary Art Peterborough.

1998 Exhibited in Group show at On-Line Gallery, Southampton.

1998 Work produced for TV Chef Steven Saunders for his restaurant "Sheene Mill".

1998 Exhibited in joint show at David Holmes Contemporary Art Peterborough.

1997 Exhibited in Group show at On-Line Gallery Southampton.

1997 Exhibited in Group show at Tannery Gallery, London.

1997 Exhibited in Group show at John Millais Gallery, Southampton.

1997 Fine Art Degree show at Southampton Institute.

1997 Worked on Summer Art Camp with Ian Davenport in conjunction with Southampton City Arts.

1997 Worked on after school art class for Southampton City Arts.

Education:

1994-7 Graduated Degree in Fine Art with a higher second class honours from Southampton Institute of Higher Education

1993-4 Passed with Merit Art Foundation course at St Albans college of Art and Design (now University of Hertfordshire.)