David Bowker was born in Prestwich, Manchester and attended Butterstile County Primary School, where he was encouraged to draw and paint especially by teacher Miss Barbara Evans. He then went to Stand Grammar School, where he kept receiving encouragement in art by his teachers including Mr John Moss. He created his first oil painting in 1982, which was a landscape depicting Winter Hill at sunset. David’s first solo exhibition took place at local library in Prestwich two years later, and he continued to exhibit there in group and one-man shows until August 2006, encouraged principally by ex-Head Librarian Mr Harry Wilkinson; exhibited work at other venues including craft fairs, building societies and galleries.

In 1986 David won BBC TV North-west Tonight painting competition with painting entitled ‘Prestwich View’; the chief judge was Mr Harold Riley and Young Artist award at L.S. Lowry Centenary Celebration exhibition ‘Contemporary Salford’ at Chapman Gallery, Salford University with painting ‘Hanover Court’ a year later.

David studied for an honours degree in Combined Studies (Visual Arts and Art & Design History) at Bolton Institute of Higher Education between 1993 and 1997 and in 1998 he started teaching English as a Foreign Language, working in Eskisehir, Turkey and continuing to draw in free time. David holds an M.A. in Applied Linguistics through distance learning at Birmingham University. Teaching English continues up to the present and the list of countries he has worked in keeps growing and also includes Portugal, Italy, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the U.K.

David has been exhibiting his work in various locations around the UK and has a ‘permanent’ exhibition of works including collages and paintings displayed at Caledonian College of Engineering, Muscat, Oman.

The exhibition at Chester Art Centre will run until the 13^th of July 2021.

Come along for the official opening on 1 July at 6:30 to meet David and have a glass of wine!