Anthony Davies

WORKS FROM THIS ARTIST

Davies was born in Andover, Hampshire in 1947 and attended both the Manchester School of Art and the Royal College of Art. He was awarded the Prix de Rome having been a fellow of the British School in Rome.

Anthony Davies worked largely in print based media and is well known for his Wasteland Series. He has worked on a number of urban themes infused with a strong sense of social conscience and awareness.
Examples of his work are held by several public collections both in the UK and overseas. His work shows many aspects of the troubles amongst other subject matter. Whilst some of the black and white prints present stark views of Northern Ireland the coloured ones seem to present the stereotypical figures of youths in various street scenes and have a dark humorous aspect to them. They are never comfortable viewing however.

The images shine a spotlight on types of individuals and events rather than depicting one actual scene.

Davies spent time living and working in Derry and drew on what he had seen there for a range of works. He set up his own print workshop in 1986 following a printmaking Fellowship at the Royal College of Art and was artist in residence at the Foyle Arts Centre in Derry in 1987. He studied at Winchester School of Art from 1966-70, the Royal College of Art form 1970-73 and the British School at Rome 1973-75. He taught in a number of colleges in the UK before coming to Northern Ireland in 1984 to teach printmaking at the University of Ulster. He has taught in several institutions throughout the UK including the Art College at the University of Ulster. His work features in a number of public collections including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the British Council.

Since 2007 he has lived and worked in New Zealand.

His exhibition history includes: Ten Years After 1997-2007, Lopdell House Gallery, Titirangi, Auckland, New Zealand, 2009, Albania, Tirana, National Gallery 1996, Croatia, Osijek, Galerija Likovbih Umjetnosti, 1996; Jamaica, Kingston, National Gallery of Jamaica 1993, Barbados, St Michael Barbados Museum and Historical Society, 1992; Barbados St Michael, Central Bank Gallery, 1992; The Wolsey Art Gallery in Ipswich. Orchard Gallery and Derry City Council Touring exhibition, 21 March-3rd May, 1992, Cornerhouse, Manchester, ‘A line of Country, Three artists from Northern Ireland,’ 1987; he has also had solo shows at the Compass Gallery in Glasgow and the Bluecoat Gallery in Liverpool.