david tindle
"Painting is a way of holding onto a moment, of preserving light and memory in a way that words cannot."
– David Tindle
David Tindle RA (born 29 April 1932) is a distinguished British painter renowned for his meticulous technique and evocative imagery. Born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Tindle began his formal art education at Coventry School of Art from 1945 to 1947.
Throughout his career, Tindle has held several prominent teaching positions. He taught at Hornsey College of Art and Byam Shaw School of Art between 1959 and 1974, served as a visiting tutor at the Royal College of Art from 1972 to 1983, and was appointed Ruskin Master of Drawing at Oxford University from 1985 to 1987
Tindle's artistic journey began with his first solo exhibition at the Piccadilly Gallery, London, in 1954. He has since exhibited extensively across the UK and Europe, including notable shows at the 57 Gallery in Edinburgh (1957), Galleria Carbonesi in Bologna (1968), and Gallerie XX in Hamburg (1974, 1977, 1980, and 1985). His work has also been featured in significant group exhibitions, such as the International Biennale of Realistic Art in Bruges (1958), the John Moores Exhibition in Liverpool (1959 and 1961), and '25 Years of British Painting' at the Royal Academy of Arts (1977).
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In 1979, Tindle was elected a Royal Academician, reflecting his esteemed status in the British art community. His oeuvre includes a variety of subjects, but he is particularly acclaimed for his self-portraits. One such work from 1985 is part of the National Portrait Gallery's collection.
Tindle has also undertaken notable commissions, including portraits of Sir Dirk Bogarde for the National Portrait Gallery in 1986 and Lord Sainsbury in 1990. Additionally, he designed the stage set for Tchaikovsky's opera 'Yolanta' at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1988.
A significant retrospective of Tindle's work was held at Huddersfield Art Gallery in 2016, offering a comprehensive overview of his six-decade-long career. The exhibition was met with critical acclaim; Rachel Cooke of The Guardian awarded it a five-star review, hailing Tindle as "one of the finest figurative painters of his generation."
Today, David Tindle continues to create art, residing and working in Italy. His recent works delve into themes of memory and mortality, often featuring dream-like imagery with biblical references. His contributions to British art remain significant, with his works held in numerous public and private collections worldwide.