David Holden, Artist, Teacher, Mentor
Artists personal statement:

My work has changed over the course of 45 years of battling and struggling through paintings which have been described as thought provoking statements, that bring to light the current problems we are now experiencing. My earlier works, 2000-2010, predicted the danger of the internet on children and young adults which has come to fruition with mental health at an all time high, resulting in suicides of unprecedented proportion. My current works have been executed as a sculptor, after all I specialised in sculpture from 1980 - 83, and was chuffed to bits when I was awarded a 2:2 because my work was so awful. I described it as shit, which led me on to produce a body of work using cow dung as a painterly medium. No one has been brave enough to purchase my two cow shit paintings yet and I don’t blame them, they are full of shit. However, ‘Lady Muck From Shit Farm’ did sell at a solo exhibition. 

My ‘Venice’ series seemed to attract much interest even before I finished the final painting where I used my old jeans as a base, which I collaged onto a large canvas to create a sculptural relief composition for me to attack with oils, resin, PVA wood glue, and sand paper. The final outcome ‘Venice is sinking’ was inspired by Frank Auerbach and Anish Kapoor, two three dimensional painters who tore up the rule book designed and aimed at safe artists currently at universities studying Micky mouse courses. I break all the rules of conventional painting, my imagery evolves over time, sometimes a day, more often years. I often leave a half finished painting on the roof of my studio in the hope that the elements will transform the work naturally for me, a cry for help! This spontaneous act of ‘Performance Art’ worked well by chance on my painting ‘Mazungu’ which is still evolving as the white oil paint changes tone after a stint sunbathing outside in all weathers.

I am at my best and happy when in the H block, tutoring youngsters, sharing ideas and creative techniques with the next generation of Michael Armitage’s, Jamie Vaulkhard’s, and Tristan Pigott’s, three outstanding Artist’s I am proud to have taught to Scholarship level to help them on their journeys to become the great Artist’s they are today.

I teach children about the importance of self-discipline and good behaviour which can only help their progress and attainment. The common values of hard work, resilience, and effort, omitting perfectionism for the more important skill of making mistakes. Two famous former Art Scholars, Architect, Fui Srivikorn, 2006, and Photographer Stuart Mack, 2003, commented “Mr H not only taught us Art, he gave us the confidence to make mistakes”. 

H 2025.

​https://www.davidholden.org.uk/welcome.html