David Spiller

As David became older, he felt an increasing urgency to keep his legacy alive, he understood the medium of printmaking was a great way to spread his 'magic' to a wider audience than a single painting might achieve. He loved that his prints could be shared with a greater audience and that his editions offered more accessibility to collectors and loved to give them as gifts to friends and family. David would always get a kick out of seeing one of his prints in a magazine or in a hotel or restaurant. Achieving his mission to leave his mark; "Maybe all we're doing is leaving our fingerprints... Leaving our mark." 

David continued to make original artworks specifically for prints up until he died, for his last editions to be published after his death.  He painted from scratch individual works, by-passing the digital process and making bespoke new works specifically for printmaking. Fervently keeping alive his life-time's work, and spending his last working days surrounded by his favourite cartoon family, and including his most important, heartfelt mantras and song lyrics. 

Born in Dartford, Kent, David became engrossed in art and popular culture from a young age.  His older brothers would play him projections of Mickey Mouse cartoons and he would spend hours drawing the characters, as a way of keeping them close to him.   After studying Graphic Design at Sidcup Art School and painting at Beckenham School of Art, in 1962 he went on to the Slade School of Art, where he was taught by Frank Auerbach and William Coldstream and where he won the Henry Tonks Prize for Drawing.  Throughout his long career he enjoyed huge success with regular solo shows through Europe, the UK and America and his paintings are held in important private and public collections worldwide.  

Spiller's vibrant and playful works blend iconic imagery and song lyrics, intertwined with freehand drawings and spontaneous messages.  Sometimes happy, sometimes sad - at the core of each of David's work is the universal message of love.  As well as being visually bold and beautiful, his pieces have the ability to strike a chord - helping us replay moments in our own lives and reminding us of what is really important.  

"Don’t be afraid to give your heart.  

Don’t be afraid to walk in the dark. 

Don’t be afraid to say yes.  

Don’t be afraid to say no. 

Don’t be afraid to have fun.  

Don’t be afraid to say I love you". 

David Spiller 1942 - 2018