James Alan Davie
Biography
Born in Grangemouth, his father was a painter and printmaker. Between 1937 - 40 Alan studied at Edinburgh College of Art where he won several scholarships. After a period spent serving in the army he worked as a jazz musician, while developing his interests in writing poetry, designing and making textiles, ceramics and jewellery. His influences have always been diverse and by the time of his first solo exhibition held in Edinburgh, 1946, his interest in the works of Paul Klee and primitive artists was apparent. By 1947 his work was considered groundbreaking, with successful exhibitions held in the Florence and Venice. During this period the collector Peggy Guggenheim becoming a major supporter and during the next ten years he exhibited widely. His first New York exhibition was held in 1956 and from this time he was warmly accepted and welcomed by the likes of Jackson Pollock and Gorky. During 1957-59 he was Gregory Fellow at Leeds University. His interests ranged from gliding, diving, oriental mysticism, Indian mythology and all aspects of ancient culture and arts.
He continues to exhibit internationally and his work is held in many of the worlds major public collections. In 1972 he was awarded C.B.E. Alan Davie now lives in the UK with his wife Bili. He continues to energetically produce magnificent works of art in his pursuit of spiritual and artistic enlightenment and truth.
In the more than 60 year long career of Alan Davie, there has never been a clear distinction for him between drawing, painting and printmaking. They are all done in an intuitive, improvised manner. His hands are working on their own and Davie watches what happens.
His activities as a printmaker have been intermittent but concentrated. Until 1999 nearly all his printmaking had been confined to the medium of lithography. Then at the age of 80, he embarked upon a major campaign of screenprinting, working with the master printmaker Kip Gresham at Gresham Studio, near Cambridge.
The subtlety of Davie's drawings pushes the medium to its limits and requires stencils that are very fragile. Therefore the number of prints is small - most of them have been made in short editions of 30 or less.
A close collaboration between the artist and the printers has been an essential part of the process. The nature of the collaboration is very close to Davie's experience in playing jazz and free form music. All those involved are dependent on one another and experimentation is at the heart of the activity.
Alan Davie was born in Grangemouth in 1920. He has been a major force in British art for over fifty years
He continues to exhibit internationally and his work is held in many of the worlds major public collections. In 1972 he was awarded C.B.E. Alan Davie now lives in the UK with his wife Bili. He continues to energetically produce magnificent works of art in his pursuit of spiritual and artistic enlightenment and truth.
In the more than 60 year long career of Alan Davie, there has never been a clear distinction for him between drawing, painting and printmaking. They are all done in an intuitive, improvised manner. His hands are working on their own and Davie watches what happens.
His activities as a printmaker have been intermittent but concentrated. Until 1999 nearly all his printmaking had been confined to the medium of lithography. Then at the age of 80, he embarked upon a major campaign of screenprinting, working with the master printmaker Kip Gresham at Gresham Studio, near Cambridge.
The subtlety of Davie's drawings pushes the medium to its limits and requires stencils that are very fragile. Therefore the number of prints is small - most of them have been made in short editions of 30 or less.
A close collaboration between the artist and the printers has been an essential part of the process. The nature of the collaboration is very close to Davie's experience in playing jazz and free form music. All those involved are dependent on one another and experimentation is at the heart of the activity.
Alan Davie was born in Grangemouth in 1920. He has been a major force in British art for over fifty years
