To celebrate the launch of the Rye Society of Artists’ (RSA) new website, and in advance of the RSA’s 70th Anniversary Summer Show in 2021, Rye News continues to profile one of their artists each week – including links to their website and social media accounts so you can keep up-to-date on their activities.
This week, the artist in focus is David Crew
David Crew B.A. 1st Class Hons., Fine Art
David trained at Canterbury, Medway and University of East London and has been a member of Rye Society of Artists since 1972.
“I paint mostly in oils and am also interested in drawing as a finished art form. There has always been a strong narrative element in my work, with the connection between time and place as a principal concern.”
You can also find more of David’s work on his website www.davidcrew.org and RSA website
Image Credits: David Crew .
You have an amazing talent David. Your works of art are wonderful. Where does your artistic flair come from?
Thank you Julia for your very kind comment, which I much appreciated. It was not until a friend e-mailed me much later with his question, that I referred back to the article and saw your comment, so my apologies for this much delayed response.
You ask about where my ‘artistic flair’ comes from. As far as I know, I am the first artist in my family. However, my paternal grandfather was very imaginative and practical, as was my father, who was a policeman in Hove, then Rye. He was an excellent woodcarver – he always said he could only copy, not initiate an idea, however he did begin to make more original work in his latter years. My mother knitted, embroidered and made many of her own clothes, so something of both parents seems to have been passed on. They were always very encouraging to me.
Being an only child, I had plenty of time to exercise my love of drawing which I did as soon as I could hold a crayon apparently. I remember many a ‘must I?’ if a friend came to ask if I could come out to play, so engrossed was I in my own world. But then I guess that is how one needs to be!
I was also fortunate to have had Kitty French and then Gill Elliot as art teachers at the then Rye Grammar School, and an especially wonderful tutor at art college, Judith Onions, of whom I am still in awe.
This is interesting David. We have moved now from Rye but only in the last week or so. We are now living in Hythe, in the Old Police Station so a little connection to you remains with your father being a policeman. I am pleased!
Good for Rye News that it shows the artists who live in and around Rye. David has been in Rye since primary school days and has exhibited work regularly until the 2020 lockdowns. When galleries reopen and exhibitions can be organised, we shall be able to see the real work. Meanwhile, thank you again Rye News!
Congratulations David! A true son of Rye and a brilliant artist. I expect that some of Kitty French’s genius rubbed off on you when she taught us at school.