DAVID WATKINS
1972 Born in Rochford, Lives and works in Westcliff on Sea
EDUCATION
2019-24 University of East London, Professional Doctorate in Fine Art
1994-97 University of Wolverhampton
BA in Fine Art, painting with sculpture
1996 University of Buffalo, New York
Six months study exchange program
BIOGRAPHY
David Watkins’ work investigates connections from global supply chain infrastructure to the Wood Wide Web. Infrastructure systems are often hidden beneath the surface of urban life, only becoming apparent when their breakdown occurs. While infrastructures promise modernity and growth, their neglect and absences expose inequality and the fragility of progress. Watkins’ current practice explores this tension between aspiration and failure. He is in the final year of the Professional Doctorate in Fine Art at the University of East London, and studied painting and sculpture at the University of Wolverhampton and the University of Buffalo in New York.
EXHIBITIONS
Selected
2023 ‘Sea Change’ The exchange, Newlyn.
2023 ‘States of Exchange’ Hypha Studiios, Stratford.
2023 ‘Low Expectations’ The Old waterworks, Southend On Sea.
2022 ‘Sensing Precarity’ Stone Space Gallery, Leytonstone.
2022 ‘A Hole in the Network’, Way Out East Gallery, Docklands.
2021 ‘Showcase Exhibition’ Professional Doctorate Fine Art, University of East London.
2020 ‘Between Walls’ Peckham, London.
2019 'Reliquie', Ausstellung, Cologne. 'Colour', Beecroft art gallery, Southend.
2018 ‘Visions of Science’ Andrew Brownsword Gallery, Bath.
‘Perfectly Small’ Foundry Gallery, London.
‘Artists Studio Commission’ Focal Point Gallery.
2017 ‘Adrift’ Atelier gallery, Leigh On Sea.
‘Odds’ Assembly point studios, Peckham.
London Art Fair.
2016 ‘Emerged’ Clerkenwell Galley, London.
Dakar Biennale, Senegal.
‘Art/Science/Life’ Ipswich Art School Gallery.
Simultaneous Participation’ Firstsite, Colchester.
2015 'The Butlers Portion' The Bear Pit, Focal Point Gallery, Southend.
Art prize 2015’ neo:gallery22, Bolton.
Griffin Gallery Open, Griffin Gallery, London.
‘Graphic interchange format’ 25 years of Focal Point, Focal Point Gallery, Southend.
‘Sorry’ Sculpture Park Installation, Village Green, Metal Southend.
2014 ‘Studio Shots’ ENAS Commision, Gibbard Gallery, Harlow.
‘Low Cost Interplanetary Trajectories’ TAP Gallery.
2013 ‘I NG Discerning Eye’ Bursary Prize, The Mall Gallery, London.
’House Show’ Nottingham.
‘On The Line’ Metal Culture, Southend on Sea.
‘Summer 13’ One Church Street Gallery, Gt Missenden.
2012 ‘Drawing Open’ One Church Street Gallery, Gt Missenden.
‘Party’ Crescent Gallery, Hadleigh.
2011 ‘Shore Lines’ Metal Culture, Southend on Sea.
Surface Gallery, Nottingham.
‘The Great Outdoors’ Pop up Show, Chalkwell Beach.
‘Fields’ TAP, Southend on Sea.
‘Festival of Britain, South Bank Centre, London.
2010 ‘A moment Before Decadence’ Co-Exist Gallery, Essex.
2009 ‘Come Together, Co-Exist Gallery at TAP; Essex.
2008 National Open Exhibition, Chichester.
2007 ‘Margins’ Sherborne House, Dorset.
2007 ‘UN Artists Open Exhibition’ South Bank, London SE1.
2006 Essex Open, Beecroft Gallery.
Works On Paper, London College.
2005 Anglian Contemporary Art, Braintree.
Art Trail, Leigh-on-Sea.
2004 Art Trail, Leigh-on-Sea.
Prize Winners Exhibition, Surface Gallery, Nottingham.
’A Fine Line’ Euroart Gallery, Tottenham, London.
2003 Open Exhibition, Surface Gallery, Nottingham.
1998 Lapinlahti art museum, Finland.
Misc
A member of the board of trustess at the Old Waterworks, an independent artist led project space sited in a Victorian water works that has been converted into artists studios and exhibition space. The core aim is to provide a research space for artists and opportunities for the production and presentation of new work.
Head Technician at Focal Point Gallery, Southend On Sea.
1972 Born in Rochford, Lives and works in Westcliff on Sea
EDUCATION
2019-24 University of East London, Professional Doctorate in Fine Art
1994-97 University of Wolverhampton
BA in Fine Art, painting with sculpture
1996 University of Buffalo, New York
Six months study exchange program
BIOGRAPHY
David Watkins’ work investigates connections from global supply chain infrastructure to the Wood Wide Web. Infrastructure systems are often hidden beneath the surface of urban life, only becoming apparent when their breakdown occurs. While infrastructures promise modernity and growth, their neglect and absences expose inequality and the fragility of progress. Watkins’ current practice explores this tension between aspiration and failure. He is in the final year of the Professional Doctorate in Fine Art at the University of East London, and studied painting and sculpture at the University of Wolverhampton and the University of Buffalo in New York.
EXHIBITIONS
Selected
2023 ‘Sea Change’ The exchange, Newlyn.
2023 ‘States of Exchange’ Hypha Studiios, Stratford.
2023 ‘Low Expectations’ The Old waterworks, Southend On Sea.
2022 ‘Sensing Precarity’ Stone Space Gallery, Leytonstone.
2022 ‘A Hole in the Network’, Way Out East Gallery, Docklands.
2021 ‘Showcase Exhibition’ Professional Doctorate Fine Art, University of East London.
2020 ‘Between Walls’ Peckham, London.
2019 'Reliquie', Ausstellung, Cologne. 'Colour', Beecroft art gallery, Southend.
2018 ‘Visions of Science’ Andrew Brownsword Gallery, Bath.
‘Perfectly Small’ Foundry Gallery, London.
‘Artists Studio Commission’ Focal Point Gallery.
2017 ‘Adrift’ Atelier gallery, Leigh On Sea.
‘Odds’ Assembly point studios, Peckham.
London Art Fair.
2016 ‘Emerged’ Clerkenwell Galley, London.
Dakar Biennale, Senegal.
‘Art/Science/Life’ Ipswich Art School Gallery.
Simultaneous Participation’ Firstsite, Colchester.
2015 'The Butlers Portion' The Bear Pit, Focal Point Gallery, Southend.
Art prize 2015’ neo:gallery22, Bolton.
Griffin Gallery Open, Griffin Gallery, London.
‘Graphic interchange format’ 25 years of Focal Point, Focal Point Gallery, Southend.
‘Sorry’ Sculpture Park Installation, Village Green, Metal Southend.
2014 ‘Studio Shots’ ENAS Commision, Gibbard Gallery, Harlow.
‘Low Cost Interplanetary Trajectories’ TAP Gallery.
2013 ‘I NG Discerning Eye’ Bursary Prize, The Mall Gallery, London.
’House Show’ Nottingham.
‘On The Line’ Metal Culture, Southend on Sea.
‘Summer 13’ One Church Street Gallery, Gt Missenden.
2012 ‘Drawing Open’ One Church Street Gallery, Gt Missenden.
‘Party’ Crescent Gallery, Hadleigh.
2011 ‘Shore Lines’ Metal Culture, Southend on Sea.
Surface Gallery, Nottingham.
‘The Great Outdoors’ Pop up Show, Chalkwell Beach.
‘Fields’ TAP, Southend on Sea.
‘Festival of Britain, South Bank Centre, London.
2010 ‘A moment Before Decadence’ Co-Exist Gallery, Essex.
2009 ‘Come Together, Co-Exist Gallery at TAP; Essex.
2008 National Open Exhibition, Chichester.
2007 ‘Margins’ Sherborne House, Dorset.
2007 ‘UN Artists Open Exhibition’ South Bank, London SE1.
2006 Essex Open, Beecroft Gallery.
Works On Paper, London College.
2005 Anglian Contemporary Art, Braintree.
Art Trail, Leigh-on-Sea.
2004 Art Trail, Leigh-on-Sea.
Prize Winners Exhibition, Surface Gallery, Nottingham.
’A Fine Line’ Euroart Gallery, Tottenham, London.
2003 Open Exhibition, Surface Gallery, Nottingham.
1998 Lapinlahti art museum, Finland.
Misc
A member of the board of trustess at the Old Waterworks, an independent artist led project space sited in a Victorian water works that has been converted into artists studios and exhibition space. The core aim is to provide a research space for artists and opportunities for the production and presentation of new work.
Head Technician at Focal Point Gallery, Southend On Sea.