Artist of the Month - August 2008 - Geoffrey Dawson

Welcome to our Artist of the Month feature for August, and congratulations to Geoffrey Dawson for being our selected artist.

Hi Geoff - can you tell us a little about yourself, and how you got started as an artist?

My name is Geoff Dawson and I was born in Kent, England in 1951 where I grew up and spent most of my life. I’ve always had a natural ability to draw but only as a hobby. Later on I would draw children and pet portraits for friends and family, after that I got into airbrush painting and started painting murals on friends' motorcycles and car bonnets, which led me on to a commission to fully mural a van called the Odessa in the late seventies. The Odessa went on to win many prizes at custom car events and was featured in the magazines Custom Car and Street Machine.

Sadly for me the eighties saw an end to airbrush murals and vinyl graphics took over and my art took a back seat. About eight years ago I had a heart problem, which made me look at my life and after a wonderful holiday here in Wales I decided to sell up and semi-retire here in 2005. I now do the odd commission and sell a few paintings but my animal prints are selling well across America, Europe and here in the U.K.

What are you favourite subjects to paint?

Wildlife is my favourite subject to paint, especially big cats but since being here in Wales I’ve found the landscape and coastal scenes very inspiring.

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists and photographers, or for those new to art?

Try to draw every day, even if it’s just 10 minutes or so, as drawing helps you observe and above all have fun.

What do you hope people see in your work?

I just hope people can see the beauty in what I see or just connect with it.

Who are your favourite artists, and are there any works in particular which have inspired you?

Turner must be my favourite artist, but there are many artists who have inspired me like David Shepherd and Robert Bateman and landscape painters like Rowland Hilder and John Blockly, just to name a few.

What painting, photograph or work of art do you wish you had produced?

It may seem strange but a work I wish I had produced is an abstract that I have only recently discovered in Cardiff - it's by the artist Merlyn Evans called Beechwood By Moonlight.

Apart from your portfolio at artfair365, how do you promote your work - are you a member of any societies, and do you have any exhibitions planned?

I have three web sites plus a couple more online galleries. I belong to the Llantrisant Art Society and we display twice a year at our local library in Pontyclun. I also display at our local gallery in Pontyclun, Giles Gallery.

From your own portfolio, which are your favourite 3 artworks?

Sumatran Tiger, Suliman, and Yellow.

Click here to view Geoffrey's portfolio.

Artist of the Month for July - Philip Dodd

Artist of the Month for June - Helen Palmer

Artist of the Month for May - Leyla Murr

Artist of the Month for April - Jean Dayton

Artist of the Month for March - Victoria Stanway

Artist of the Month for February - Patrick Palmer

Artist of the Month for January - Caren Thompson

Artist of the Month for December - Simon Wild

Artist of the Month for November - Sally Bassett