David Woodford

Since leaving the Royal Academy Schools he has celebrated the wilds of Snowdonia, where he now lives, influenced by his childhood spent in the Welsh hills where they spill into Shropshire. Small plein air paintings, meticulous and large scale studio works constitute most of the exhibition. Four visits to the Alps are also reflected in the exhibition. The exhibition is dedicated to David's late wife, Judy , "who made all things possible".

Press Release

Major Retrospective Exhibition by celebrated landscape artist

David Woodford RCA – Oriel Môn

Oriel Mon is currently housing a vast retrospective exhibition of over 200 works by the prominent landscape artist David Woodford RCA.  David, now eighty-four, trained at the Royal Academy Schools and has lived in Snowdonia for 55 years.

This major exhibition consists of a selection of works covering 65 years of the artist’s life, from student days that concentrated on the human form to his committed passion for the landscape. In other words, 65 years of unswerving dedication from his time at the Royal Academy Schools in London to his role as the proverbial student of nature in the elemental wilds of Snowdonia and eroded coastlines of Anglesey.

Since leaving the Royal Academy Schools David has celebrated the wilds of Snowdonia, influenced by his childhood spent in the Welsh hills where they spill into Shropshire. Small plein air paintings, and large-scale studio works constitute most of this exhibition, plus four visits to the Alps are also reflected here.

David states, “Here you will see small images, moments of light, meticulous drawings and large studio paintings that have been worked on, not for months, but for years and are guaranteed to hold your attention”.

The exhibition is dedicated to David’s late wife, Judy, "whose love made all things possible ".  It comes with a promise that this will not be a wasted journey.

Should anyone wish to meet the artist and discuss his work, David will be present in the gallery most days and on request. He will also be giving a talk in the gallery on the 1st of April at 11.30am, all are welcome, free of charge. His exhibition can be viewed at Oriel Môn until the 23rd of April.

David Woodford R.C.A. A Retrospective Exhibition

About the artist

David Woodford, now eighty-four, trained at the Royal Academy Schools and has now lived in Snowdonia for 55 years. A childhood in Welsh hills where they spill into Shropshire primed his love of this subject matter.

About his opinions

Eleven years studying music confirmed his understanding that each art form is locked into its medium, impotent outside it, and that the natural condition of Fine Art remains within the realm of appearances. Appearance as a property of complex brain function is never ‘superficial.’ In the translation into painting

and drawing, the image is newly potent in many ways including abstraction which does not displace representation but is a complex force precisely within and dependent upon representation.

He is most adamant in championing the existence of the Public Collection. An art form that denies the automatic conservation and display of excellence thereby negates the art form as inconsequential and self-defeating.

About this Retrospective Exhibition

The exhibition is a selection of works covering 65 years. Of the landscapes, small studies target precise moments and conditions and are not approximations. The drawings target structure including space, taking up to 30 days to complete. The large studio works bring all considerations to bear and are worked on, in many cases, over many years.

The exhibition is dedicated to the artist’s late wife, Judy, in gratitude for her constant love and support over 70 years. She made all things possible.

David Woodford will be in the gallery most days and on request.