Colin Davies

Colin Davies is a professional artist whose journey has taken him from the classroom to the canvas. After dedicating over 30 years to education, Colin made the bold decision to leave his role as a primary school headteacher in 2019 to follow his dream of becoming a full-time painter. Inspired by the stunning coastline and mountainous landscapes of Wales, Colin’s work reflects a deep connection to his surroundings.

Colin's journey into professional art began when he completed an 'A Level Fine Art' course as a mature student, rekindling a passion that had been dormant for decades. Since selling his first painting at a pop-up gallery in 2019, Colin’s career has flourished. His works are exhibited in galleries throughout the UK and are found in private collections across the country and internationally.

Colin’s technique is bold, dynamic, and richly textured. Working primarily with oils and acrylics, he favours palette knives and expressive brushwork to create movement and depth. He builds each painting through layers of paint, often beginning with loose underpainting to establish tone and structure. Using sweeping knife strokes, Colin applies thick impasto layers that add energy and texture to his landscapes. This technique captures the drama of crashing waves, windswept hillsides, and the ever-changing skies that define the Welsh landscape.

To balance this energy, Colin carefully introduces softer blending techniques, using delicate brushwork to create pockets of calm within his compositions. This contrast between bold mark-making and quieter, more refined details is a signature feature of his work, resulting in pieces that feel both powerful and serene.

Colin's process is deeply intuitive, often guided by the mood of the scene he’s portraying. Whether painting coastal cliffs, mountain ranges, or rolling countryside, his focus is on evoking the atmosphere and emotional impact of the landscape rather than replicating it in precise detail.

Alongside his artistic practice, Colin is dedicated to inspiring others. He regularly leads adult painting classes and conducts workshops for art groups and societies, sharing his skills and encouraging others to explore their creative potential.

By capturing the raw beauty of nature with bold textures, vibrant colours, and expressive techniques, Colin’s work invites viewers to step into the heart of the landscape and experience its energy firsthand. His love for Wales' breathtaking scenery continues to shape his art, making each piece a heartfelt tribute to the landscapes that inspire him.