David Grigor
Overview of my teaching career:
For the past 25 years I have spent much of my time teaching.
I became Head of Art for 2 London special needs schools, then moved to Vancouver BC where I continued teaching and became Head of Art for a high school in Vancouver.
On returning to the UK and continued to teach art and other teaching roles in Scotland until 2012.
From November 2012 until mid Feb 2020, I was the Art Instructor for a Scottish charity for blind and partially sighted veterans. The members and their work were an inspiration to my own approach now as an artist.
I returned to supply teaching in March 2020.
‘Do It’ Award from UnLtd UK 2020
for Social Enterprise
While being in lockdown, Blind Create was in development as a website to provide art tuition via video link.
I was Awarded the 'Do It' Award by UnLtd UK that now supports my Social Enterprise with up to date exciting business ideas.
The Award provided an Award Manager to liaise with, free Legal support for a number of areas such as Copyright Laws, Term of Use and Privacy Policy etc where solicitors have provided the required documents for free, regular Mentoring, and free Eventbrite courses as well as networking with other Entrepreneurs.
It is a superb Award funding body for Social Enterprise Entrepreneurs. The award financially supported this venture.
My Process
I’ve been inspired by landscapes and drawing out the drama in dramatic scenes in many places at home in the UK and abroad.
I like to use figures in my landscapes to give narrative to the images, so that the landscapes tell a story about the moment captured.
I took a new approach to landscape a decade ago by turning landscape upside down and to it’s side.
How landscapes can be interlinked and form a different composition as a different form of expression. My work shows a mixture of different mediums and themes which interest me.
The pen and ink drawings and paintings using indian ink and a variety of colour mediums such as watercolour, oil pastel and acrylic preside in much of my work as the specialism. Pen has a striking, linear quality, that succeeds more readily than other mediums for me, and it also has a permanency that works for me.
My oil landscapes are quite impasto (thick paint) and I’ve used various effects for these images. These include include some public work and when oil has been used to depict figure studies as well.
I use acrylic now as it is a far quicker medium to dry and the colour can be far brighter.
Growing up:
My interest in art began from the earliest age in Devon, UK and in 1972 my family moved from Devon, England, UK to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for several years.
Art Scholarship to Brighton College:
On return to England my passion with drawing and painting developed at school after being awarded a prestigious Art Scholarship to Brighton College, Brighton, UK.
(Brighton College is the acclaimed UK school that is regularly featured in UK news for its ground breaking forward vision and rising stars. It has a global following.)
Then went on to study Fine Art at Bath and moved to London and became an Art teacher after completing teaching training at Greenwich University.
Stage & Theatre:
I moved to London shortly before degree in 1994 originally to work for the BBC in Woodlane London.
My lucky break came as a scenery artist for the Royal National Theatre in their ‘paint frame’ and pulled the pints so to speak for some famous actors and the stage crews in the ‘Green Room’. Those I served were Dame Judy Dench, and Bill Nighy.
I then had a second lucky break working as a Scenery Artist and Colour Hand for the the BBC Paint Frame in Television Centre Woodlane, London where I produced scenes and floor panels for Blue Peter and Jules Holland Late Show in Studio 1.
I was also a ‘Stage Showman’ otherwise known as the stage crew for the West End London Musical ‘Les Miserables' in the Place Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for a short time in 1995.
About my artwork and search of ideas:
Much of my work is landscape with figures using colour contrasts to highlight each work.
My drawings are technical and yet expressive, combined with watercolour and ink, I enjoy exploring conventional yet abstracted use of figurative landscape composition.
About the 4 way compositions: Composing a painting as a 4 way image encourages the viewer to appreciate the complexities of Edinburgh as a unique coastal urban city and how new and modern architecture fits together cohesively around us.
These paintings were developed through pen & ink drawings and oil paintings, exploring connections with how landscape can fit together like pieces of jigsaw.
Further achievements:
Space Academy for Educators 2009:
‘The Right Stuff’ Medal
In 2009 and 2010 I was awarded full scholarships to attend Honeywell Space Academy for Educators at Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
The original home of Space Camp, the training centre for the Mercury 7 astronauts. During 2009 5 day programme I was awarded the ‘Right Stuff’ Medal in my group of 19 teachers from the US and other worldwide countries.
A significant honour, as there were only 5 awarded among 90 educators from 52 States and 34 different countries worldwide.
Get on Board Space Academy Art Competition 2009-2010.
The ‘Right Stuff’ award granted me a place to give a student to attend Space Academy.
I instigated and organised ‘Scotland’s Get on Board Space Academy Art Competition’ alongside interested parties, and a 14 yr old youngster won first prize.
The Scotsman covered the story.
Advanced Space Academy for Educators 2010:
In 2010 I was awarded a second scholarship to attend the Advanced Space Academy for Educators 6 day programme. This course is again at NASA’s Davidsons Rocket Centre, Huntsville, AL but it also involves going to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, Cape Canaveral for 3 days.
The Advanced programme included scuba diving in the astronaut training tank, and visiting the ISS Processing Facility and the famous NASA Hanger and NASA Launch site where the Apollo and Space Shuttle missions took off.
Simulated Shuttle Missions, from EVA, ISS and advanced classroom learning about Space exploration and NASA to take back to the classroom for educating youngsters.
Space Academy / Space Camp is known throughout the world and is
Comments and suggestions.
Please leave your comments and suggestions as I am always interested in how I can improve, and develop existing and new ideas, to make them as successful as possible.
I hope you’ll want to be part of the opportunities I’m offering on my website, and I’m hoping we’ll be part of this exciting journey together.
My Vision for this website.
Being an artist can have many challenges, so my vision and aim is to make a success of this website and to showcase my artwork alongside Blind Create, give art classes and of course sell artwork. So as an artist, educator and entrepreneur I am looking to develop Blind Create along with my artwork that can benefit many people.
Selling and sending artwork.
Once purchased the artwork may take a short while to be delivered, but at the moment the postage and packing is included in the price of the artwork. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
For the Giclee prints:
White label shipping is used as quick postage and packing direct from the printer to the customer.
White labeling means that your products will be sold and shipped as a product or brand of the wholesale vendor.
Exhibitions & Commissions
2020 - Online ongoing art exhibition at davidgrigor.com
2016 - present VIDA E-Commerce fashion on-line company
2014 - 18 Westgate Gallery, North Berwick,
2015 -18 Colinton Arts Gallery & Shop, Edinburgh.
April - Sept 2015 Hendersons Restaurant & Art Gallery, Edinburgh – Solo exhibition
June 2013 Port Gallery, Kilsyth.- Shared exhibition ongoing
May- August 2012 Diner 7, The Shore, Edinburgh – Solo exhibition
June 2012 Barclay Viewforth Church, Edinburgh – Painting for church.
Jan- April 2012 Victoria Park Hotel, Edinburgh – Solo exhibition
30 Nov 2011 Pearce’s Auction, Elm Row, Edinburgh (For Barnado’s) – Shared exhibition
11-25 Aug 2011 JVR Properties, Musselburgh, Edinburgh- Solo exhibition
May 2011 Sophies Bar and Gallery, Henderson’s St, Edinburgh – Solo exhibition
Sept 2009 Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Edinburgh – Shared exhibition.
Sept 2009 Gothenburg Gallery, Preston Pans – Shared exhibition
May 08,09,11 Public commission -3 Harbour Festival- Mural Fest painting.
April 2009 Easter Play, Edinburgh – Public Art work.
Aug- Sept 2009 Edinburgh International Book festival – Cards on sale.
April/May 2009 Peter Potter Gallery Open – Haddington, East Lothian.
Feb/ March 2009 Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, Edinburgh – Shared exhibition.
Aug – Sept 2008 Leith Gallery – Edinburgh - Shared exhibition.
Aug – Oct 2008 Rocket Gallery – Edinburgh - Shared exhibition.
May 2008 Bourne Fine Arts – Edinburgh. Auction for SSEF
June – Aug 2007 Art Matters - Musselburgh Art Gallery and shop – joint show
July – Aug 2004 Images for Canadian Heritage, Vancouver, BC Canada, Joint show.
2001 – 2004 Vancouver Commissions -12 different sources, over 30 works:
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver – 2 watercolours for the hotel.
Vancouver Convention Centre – 1 watercolour of centre.
Architecture firm, Vancouver Shopping centre - 5 pen & ink & wash
University of British Columbia - Halls of Residence
Murdo Fraser Golf Course, Vancouver - 5 watercolour painting
Robson Hotel & restaurant, Vancouver – 1 pen & ink watercolour
Grays Guest House, Vancouver –1 pen & ink watercolour
8 Catholic High schools in Vancouver – watercolours
5 Primary schools in Vancouver – watercolours
Point Gray Guest House, Vancouver- 1 watercolour
Private Homes in Vancouver- various paintings in watercolour
Nov - Dec 1995 Southwark Open, South London Gallery – Shared exhibition
1994- 2001 Private Commissions – Bromley & Greenwich, London
Nov 1993 Jan 1994 Warminster Arts Centre, Wiltshire – Shared exhibition show 40 paintings.
1994 Public Commission - Landscape drawings of Wiltshire for placemats.
Nov – Dec 1992 - Salthouse Gallery, St.Ives, Cornwall – Shared exhibition
May – June 1991 - Camden Books, Bath Festival – Solo exhibition
1991 Private Commissions – Paris, France – 5 paintings
1989-1992 500 paintings of Bath – private buyers.
June 1988 Burstow Gallery, Brighton – One man show paintings of Brighton
1987 Private Commission for Brighton College, Private school, Brighton.
1986 3 Private commissions for Chairman of the Guardian Newspaper.