Simon Davis in conversation with Anna McNay

Heatherleys Online: Simon Davis in Conversation with Anna McNay

The Heatherley Guest Lecturer programme continues with the fourth in a series of online in conversation events with artists (Zoom link below). Illustrator and portrait painter Simon Davis speaks about his work to art writer and journalist Anna McNay.

In conversation with McNay, Davis will look back to the start of his career, working in comic illustration, and explore the trajectory from this to his current portrait painting. Looking both at his very early hybrid portraits, as well as his most recent ‘I Am Because You Are’ series, comprising small portraits of artists who have influenced him – a ‘self-portrait through other portraits’, Davis will tell anecdotes relating to sitters, as well as elucidating his process and discussing his involvement with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP).

About Simon Davis

Simon Davis trained in Technical Illustration in Leamington Spa and then Graphic Design at Swindon. After a brief time working in design studios, he began illustrating for the iconic British comic 2000AD and continues to do so after 25 years. Davis has illustrated for many publications around the world and has also storyboarded music videos for the likes of Muse and Tori Amos.

He also paints portraits in parallel to this illustration work and, in 2008, he was runner up in the BP Portrait Award. In the same year, he was elected to the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP) and is currently the Vice President.

About Anna McNay

Anna McNay is a freelance art writer and editor. She contributes regularly to Art Quarterly (Art Fund’s magazine, where she was previously Assistant Editor), Studio International, Photomonitor, Elephant magazine, Norwegian Arts, and The Flux Review, and has been widely published in a variety of other print and online art and photography journals and newspapers. She has written numerous catalogue essays, edited a number of books, and regularly hosts panel and in conversation events at galleries around London.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION By attending this talk you understand that the Heatherley School of Fine Art will record these events for broadcast via YouTube and other media – and you agree to these terms. The Heatherley School of Fine Art is the owner of the rights to this content.

Simon Davis - Artists Talk