Rowland Davidson

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Rowland Davidson lives and works in Belfast . He has been a full time professional artist for over twenty years and is considered to be one of Ireland 's best figurative painters.
Rowland's work is characterised by skilled draughtsmanship coupled with warmth and softness of brushstroke, sensitive portrayal of subject matter and depth of contrast. Colour is important in his work but his particular interest lies in the bold use of light and shade, which results in work of stunning contrast.

Rowland's early work was mainly landscape based, painted 'en plein air' or life studies painted in situ. His mature style involves a variety of subjects; children playing, people working, fairs and markets, traditional musicians and dancers. He paints his subjects absorbed in their own world, be it considering a bargain at a market or swapping tips at a horse fair. His paintings capture a particular moment in time and are imbued with a strong sense of narrative. This narrative element is a major appeal of Rowland's work; his paintings continually capture the viewer's imagination.

Rowland's most recent work has seen his style move away from direct representation to a looser more abstracted style, with a strong evocative quality. Whether his style is figurative or abstract, Rowland's gift is his insight, sensitivity and his great ability to capture the moods and atmosphere of his subjects.