David Howells

David Howells was born in Leicester, England and immigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada at a young age. As a child, he loved to draw and would duplicate black and white photographs of animals with graphite. This fascination with producing life-like drawings led to years of painting high realism, using gouache. David studied fine arts at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., and graphic design in Middleton, N.S. His work first gained public exposure in 1982 with Zwicker’s Gallery in Halifax, N.S.

In his early twenties, David turned to oil painting, and discovered a new technique and approach to his art. His palette became more colorful and his style more free. In 1986, he moved to Toronto, Ont., where his work was exhibited in various Yorkville galleries. David participated successfully in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition for eight years between 1988 and 1998. His art has been exhibited at the O’Keefe Centre in Toronto and is in several private and corporate collections throughout the world. In 1996 David’s work placed first in the oil painting category at the Allen Town Art Show in Buffalo, New York. Some major commissioned works have included murals, book illustrations and stone lithos. David has also taught courses and been a guest lecturer on oil painting.

David has traveled extensively to nearly forty countries. This broad range of exposure and his love of nature are evident in his paintings. Mainly traditional pastoral landscapes and garden scenes, they reflect both the beauty of the many geographical areas he has explored and the influence of his favorite artists – John Constable, for his earthy landscapes, and Monet, Pissaro and Sisley, for their palettes and sense of atmosphere.