DAVID DOWNTON

Over the last two decades, British artist David Downton has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading fashion portraitists, inheriting the mantle once worn by fellow Europeans René Bouche and René Gruau. His classically elegant, yet highly contemporary images have brought a new face to the world of fashion portraiture. Downton has produced portraits (from life) of some of the world’s most beautiful and iconic women including: Cate Blanchett, Dita Von Teese, Carolina Hererra, Catherine Deneuve, Iman, Linda Evangelista, Rachel Weisz and Paloma Picasso.

Since 1996, the British artist’s reports from couture shows, have appeared in Vanity Fair, W Magazine, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and The New York Times, among others. His commercial client list includes Chanel, Dior, Valentino, Tiffany & Co., Estée Lauder and the V&A Museum. In 2011, Claridge’s hotel in London appointed him its first ever artist in residence, in which capacity he has been commissioned to draw the hotel’s most illustrious guests.

Downton has produced two books: “Masters of Fashion Illustration,” in 2010, and his first monograph, “Portraits of the World’s Most Stylish Women,” in 2015. He was awarded Honorary Doctorates by London College of Fashion, Academy of Art University San Francisco, and the University of Wolverhampton. His work features in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Musee Galliera in Paris.

“More than ever we ask ourselves how art and design reflects our personal view of the world and ourselves. A David Downton commissioned portrait is an experience of self-reflection and expression not to be missed.” – Mary Ta