David Rafer

Introducing a new artist at Fruits Ablaze

David is a Norfolk landscape artist, based in Cromer, who likes to sketch and paint outdoors directly in front of his subjects. He also likes to travel to other parts of Britain to paint his landscapes, including Suffolk and Essex. He studied art and English literature as an academic student and was fortunate to be inspired by a tutor, who was also a talented artist, to travel with him to see many galleries in England and France.

David initially studied for a B.A., the course was primarily a study of
English but also included the art movements of Romanticism, Realism and Modernism and their influence on literary works.

He was awarded a First for his B.A. dissertation which won the Ivy Black memorial prize for literature. This dissertation was on the topic of poetical and artistic
responses to The Divine Comedy, including William Blake’s illustrations.
I found myself increasingly drawn to symbolism and art in all its forms. He progressed to a Ph.D. on C.S. Lewis, following which he wrote various papers on the uses of myth in literature and television.

Inspiring Landscape, People And Places Of Norfolk

David’s interest in art has since grown beyond academic study through his own
paintings responding to the inspiring landscape, people and places of
Norfolk, “I found I could experience the environs of Norfolk with new
immediacy through en plein air painting whether alone or with some great
friends and fellow plein air painters”.

A wealth of subjects continue to challenge his painting skills, working in the mediums of oils, watercolours and acrylic. He has taken commissions on a
variety of subjects including the race horse Ajay’s Ways, winning at
Fakenham races, a large scale sunset over Cromer pier and recently a
very long deep edge canvas of beach huts at Wells next the sea. I’ve
also found that some commission works can be invested with intense
emotion, such as works of favourite views that I’ve painted for people
whose loved ones are no longer with us.

David regularly opens his studio in Cromer, Norfolk for viewing paintings.