David Bradford is an artist living and working in Sussex, having studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths College of Art and Sussex University.
David's interpretations of ship and boats are drawn from childhood observations of shipping activity on the Thames in London when it was still a working river.
In the mid-1960s as an art student, he would explore London's docklands making photographs and drawings recording the end of an era. These formative experiences led to a lifelong interest in our maritime history and a fascination for working boat shape and design. David still records shipping when sailing in Norfolk, the West Country, Wales, and Scotland but contemporary ship design lends itself less well to sculpture than earlier ship profiles.
These themes are developed using British hard and softwoods. Natural pigments, stains and beeswax are used to enhance the sculptures, without detracting from the intrinsic beauty of the original timber.
David's work is enjoyed by a diverse clientele, from prime ministers to pop musicians, and is in permanent museum collections and galleries.