David Bent – reaches for the sky

20th August 2015

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David Bent Aviation Artist

Among other things!

Hello listeners! As you no doubt know, I never need much of an excuse to shout-out about anything and anyone in Swindon. Nor to give older posts a refresh. So here’s not one but several reasons to mention David Bent again.

David lives and works from his studio in Swindon’s Old Town and plays an active part in the local community and supports the creative hotspot that is Swindon and indeed its wider area.

Reach for the skies with The Reds

David is widely known and internationally renowned for his aviation paintings and his association with ‘The Reds’ – aka The Red Arrows.  Having been invited to collaborate with the team David maintains a very positive relationship with these most magnificent men in their flying machines.

In the words of Andrew Morton, PR Manager for the Red Arrows:

‘Leading modern aviation artist David Bent was first invited to collaborate as Artist in Residence with the Red Arrows in 2007. This remains a positive and enduring goodwill relationship.

David is the artist most closely associated with the team. His work is exhibited at the team’s Lincolnshire home base, RAF Scampton….’

http://davidbentstudio.com/gallery/artofflight/red-arrows.html

Some of David’s aviation art will be on display locally when Swindon Remembers The Few in the forthcoming Battle of Britain commemorations which will be centred around Harold Starr. 

Here David talks about the beauty of the aircraft design:

There is though more to his work than aviation, notably his ‘Movement‘ works  – more of which you can find in the round-up below of David’s recent and forthcoming activities – one of which is the forthcoming Open Studios. I intend to be there!

1. ABC: Art + Beach + Collaboration 2015 

• 2014 : Bournemouth Air Festival invited David Bent to be their first official artist in residence, leading to the creation of his painting WOW

• 2015 : This week, he returns to the Air Festival and looks forward to creating a new artwork in collaboration with students from the Arts University

• 2016 : Artwork created during the 2014 + 2015 residencies will be included in a wider exhibition of his work at the Russell Cotes.

” The BA (Hons) Commercial Photography course, at the Arts University Bournemouth are excited to be collaborating with both the Bournemouth Air Festival and the Internationally respected aviation artist David Bent. The collaboration gives our students the opportunity to use their skills and creativity while working on a fascinating project, during a festival that is important to Bournemouth, both culturally and economically. We look forward to the outcomes, exhibition and publication, and hope this will the first of many joint projects.” Conrad Tracy. Course Leader & Principal Lecturer – BA Commercial Photography

Further on this subject, Councillor Lawrence Williams, Cabinet member for Tourism, Leisure and the Arts said:

” We are delighted to be able to host artist David Bent again this year as our official artist in residence during the Air Festival and are excited to also involve the talented students from the Arts University, Bournemouth.

We look forward to seeing how they work together and capture the festival’s colour , creativity, vibrancy and unique atmosphere.”

2. GREAT WESTERN HOSPITAL, SWINDON 

Having been a patient at the GWH in the summer of 2014, David has returned in happier circumstances in 2015 with an exhibition of his work. As part of the event ( May – October ) he is giving a tour and a talk about the work to members of the hospital team and arts committee in September.

The Trust’s Chaplain, Steve Henderson, who is also a member of the Hospital Arts committee, explained:

“The Arts Committee oversees the art displayed in the Fine Art Gallery Area of the Ground Floor Street of the hospital. David has kindly allowed the hospital to display his work and the Committee is enthusiastic to display it because of its innovative and inspiring approach to viewing and conceiving machines of the air in lateral and surprising ways.”This is a unique opportunity for the people of Swindon to view a collection of works by one of its most reputable artists.” 

3. OPEN STUDIOS – OVER A DECADE!

David has taken part in Swindon’s Open studios event for over a decade in support of the event,  for artists in Swindon and the surrounding area. One year early in the 2000’s taking part with two other artists who live in the surrounding area ( Vanetta Joffe & Paul Ricketts ) just to keep the event alive.

Here’s a couple of lovely testimonials from visitors to David’s work:

” Inspiring and elevating ” Tim Prince , Stroud 

” Never before has British aviation and art come together as such ! ” Tatiana K. Ojjeh Switzerland  

” Wonderful exhibition and feel very privileged to be able to experience the studio thank you ” Alex Giles, Old Town

4. BATTLE OF BRITAIN – IN RESPECT 

Six artworks from David’s Battle of Britain series will be displayed at Radnor Street Chapel 12 – 15th September in support of the Commemorations.

These were first exhibited at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2010 , marking the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

David is giving six primary schools each a copy of his ” Celebration of the Red Arrows ” book .

His work will also be the inspiration for a school project ( building on the idea of 800 children who were inspired to create artworks based on his year long solo exhibition at the Raf Museum in 2012 – 2013.)

“It’s good to see a great Swindon artist like David Bent being exhibited in our home town. I’m glad to say that David’s work will be on display in September, when a special collection of his Battle of Britain artworks will be exhibited as part of a unique commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the battle, paying tribute to Harold Starr, Swindon’s own Battle of Britain hero and the other 543 of the ‘the few’.” Graham Carter, Editor of Swindon Heritage Magazine

5. MOVEMENT 2000

http://davidbentstudio.com/gallery/movement-2000.html

As a social expressionist whose work extends beyond aviation Art , David has created a wide collection of work – including Movement 2000.

This installation of eight paintings reference the movement of people around the world who  through war, famine , poverty –  seek a better life. This work was created leading up to 2000, influenced by the Balkan Wars – it is even more relevant today.   David is keen to find a good home to exhibit this work effectively.

For quotes about David’s work & background   http://davidbentstudio.com

See also: https://swindonian.me/2014/09/24/david-bent-choosing-swindon/

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