David Rees’s Rise captures the fusion of human emotion and abstract expression, offering a compelling portrayal of inner strength and transformation. Vibrant colours cascade down the canvas, each carefully chosen to evoke a sense of renewal. Fluid brushstrokes and drips bring a dynamic, almost ethereal quality, while the detailed central figure contrasts beautifully with the free-flowing background.
The subject’s introspective gaze invites deeper thought, encouraging personal connection and reflection. Rees’s balance of realism and abstraction, combined with his emotive use of colour, creates a powerful narrative of resilience and growth. Rich in cultural and emotional depth, Rise is both visually striking and deeply moving—a standout piece suited to a variety of settings.
| Medium: | Canvas |
| Format: | Digital Canvas/Screen |
| Size (Framed): | 108 x 72 cm |
| Size (Unframed): | 108 x 72 cm |
| Signed: | Yes |
| Limited Edition: | Edition 33/95 of 1 |
David Rees is a British figurative painter whose work explores themes of memory, imperfection, and emotional nuance through bold, expressive portraiture. Based in Camden, London, his studio practice is shaped by a deep interest in the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of Wabi Sabi—an embrace of beauty in imperfection and impermanence.
Art has been a constant thread throughout David’s life. As a child, he spent weekends sketching cartoon heroes and video game characters, eventually earning an art scholarship and discovering a passion for oil painting during sixth form. His early works caught the attention of teachers and school parents, but after choosing to study History of Art at Nottingham University, he stepped away from creating to focus on understanding the broader context of art itself.
After university, David worked in international development across Africa, supporting street-involved children—an experience that deeply informed his perspective on humanity, vulnerability, and resilience. But it was a chance encounter with an Andrew Salgado exhibition in London that reignited his creative drive. Inspired by the emotional intensity and scale of Salgado’s portraits, David made a life-changing decision: he quit his job, moved to rural France, and began painting full-time.
Despite having only a handful of paintings to his name, David was quickly signed by the major art publisher Washington Green. Over the years, his technique evolved as he drew inspiration from artists such as Marco Grassi, Harding Meyer, and Jimmy Law. In 2018, he left the publisher to pursue a more independent path, focusing on developing a more personal and authentic voice in his work.
Today, David’s paintings explore the emotional terrain of the human experience—grief, nostalgia, mental health, and introspection—often rendered through textured layers and expressive mark-making. His work invites viewers to find their own meanings, challenging them to sit with discomfort, vulnerability, and beauty in equal measure.
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