Inspired by the romanticism of Rodin and Bourdelle, David’s sculpture is noted for its classical balance and poise and above all for a sense of movement and vitality captured within the form. It’s the powerful energy of David’s work that pushes it beyond the ornamental and gives it its definitive timeless edge.
David has a distinguished artistic pedigree. His great uncle was Clough Williams-Ellis, the architect who created the Italianate village of Portmeiron while his parents were talented amateur artists and his sister, Bronwyn, is a globally renowned ceramicist.
David started sculpting as a child and made his first sale, his A Level plaster figure, before he left school. He attributes his early career start to a helpful teacher who “was a painter by practice but a sculptor by inclination”. On leaving school, David sought out a classical training in Florence under the legendary octogenarian drawing teacher, Nerina Simi. From there he went on to be an apprentice wood carver and then joined a community of marble carvers in Pietresanta beneath the Carrara Mountains. It was a chance encounter with a girl sitting on a pillar that planted the seed of inspiration that would later flower into his signature style. David realised that the restrictions of carving were not for him and he returned to London to attend the Sir John Cass School of Art.
Today his work is in private collections all over the world and can be seen in public spaces and flagship buildings from Scone Palace in Perthshire to the IFC Building in Shanghai. His iconic sculpture of the artist Kyffin Williams can be seen outside Oriel Môn in Llangefni and of course, here at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, we have the beautiful Louise. In 2019 his biggest project to date, a sculpture to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, was unveiled at Ver-sur-Mer, France.