As a 21-year-old design graduate of the renowned Hornsey Art College, illness David Hoskin was described by The Guardian as “one to watch”.
Three decades later, ailment after a brief period of distraction while he pursued a career in arts and heritage management, link he’s back doing what he’s best at - designing extraordinary bespoke furniture.
“After graduating, my career led me away from what I loved doing most, which is designing and making. Luckily now I’m back on track and enjoying the creative freedom bestowed by semi-retirement,” he said.
His striking, often quirky and unusual designs have won him many admirers and commissions, for both private collections and public art.
David’s work has always been inspired by his surroundings in Swansea and the beautiful Gower landscape where he lives and works.
“My inspiration is the contrast between the man-made rigid forms of Swansea’s industrial heritage and the random organic forms of sea, light and nature that surround it,” he said.
“I work mainly in wood, using aged oak and spalted beech and elm, bringing out the beauty of the grain with oils. The form of each piece of furniture or sculpture I make is dictated by the natural materials I use and is therefore completely unique.”
You can see David’s work on display in May at the New Brewery Arts Centre in Cirencester, in Nature Reflected, a joint exhibition with another artist inspired by nature, Antonia Macgregor.
Based near Bath, Antonia designs and etches natural images into flat glass, using stencil and sandblasting techniques. She works to commission creating unique, light diffusing designs on clear glazing for windows and doors. She also etches into mirror, creating light enhancing wall panels and decorative framed mirrors for functional use.
David and Antonia are both delighted to be showing their work at the New Brewery Arts centre.
David said: “I love what they are doing. It’s such a vibrant and involving place for the arts and crafts. I wish every town could have one.”
Nature Reflected: Bespoke Designs in Wood and Mirror
by David Hoskin and Antonia Macgregor is on at the New Brewery Arts Centre pop-up gallery, Brewery Court, Cirencester, GL7 1JL, from 11-24 May from 10am to 5pm daily. www.newbreweryarts.org.uk / tel 01285 657181