It’s Festival Time!! one of our busiest times of year as everyone flock to Edinburgh for a month of Art, Drama, Music, Comedy, Cabaret and everything in between.
If you’re looking for prints to remind yourself of all the fun you had in Edinburgh, then look no further than Scottish Artist David Fleck. Just arrived is his new Festival inspired print. Festival City.
Let’s find out a little bit more about David and his work as Artist & Architect.
Hi David, Introduce your work to our lovely Red Door Customers and let them know what you do?
Working between illustration and architecture, I’m interested in the crossover between art, architecture, people, and our cities.
What do you love most about what you do?
Right now it’s the flexibility and the variety- I bounce between illustrating and architecture, so whenever I’m worn out with one project I can dive into something different. When I’m illustrating I love relaxing into the process and getting lost in drawing, and the relatively fast pay off of seeing something come together on paper. When I’m designing buildings I love working with the people who will use the building, and the complexity of thinking through a big problem bit by bit until it all knits together, and the relatively slow pay off of walking around something that was once just in my head.
The ‘Iconic Treehouses’ mini collection features illustrations of several famous architectural houses reimagined as treehouses. This was part of David’s Exhibition back in October last year.
Where Did You Study & Why?
Architecture is a long course, but you can split it into two parts, so I studied in Aberdeen then Glasgow School of Art. Aberdeen was a sort of happy accident (I cancelled a place in Sheffield in a last minute ‘what do I want to do with my life’ panic, then decided I should do architecture after all and just squeezed into Aberdeen at the last minute). Glasgow was my post grad at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, and by that time I was happily married in Glasgow so I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else – but it happened to be a good school too.
One of David’s most popular prints. Voyages Over Edinburgh – £30
Where do you base yourself and why?
I’m in Glasgow now, simply because I stuck around after art school, and now it’s my community and home. Most of the time I’ll be working at our dining table because it gets the sun for most of the day, plus it’s near the kitchen for tea and snacks. I’ve got plans to build a studio out in our garden over the next year or so though, so hopefully soon I’ll be getting even more or the sun (when it appears) and facing out towards a big beech tree.
What do you like to do when you escape work? Where’s your favourite Coffee Spot?
Twice a day my escape is walking our puppy Matilda- exploring our neighbourhoods and chatting to other dogs (and sometimes their owners). Other regular escapes are finding interesting food places around Glasgow, or grabbing a drink with pals. Occasionally I get to escape from normal work into a different kind of work- I sometimes head over to India to consult on architecture projects for a week or two at a time. The trips can be full on, but I love the work, seeing new places, and meeting new people.
My current favourite coffee (and brunch) spot is KAF in Glasgow. Long black & a salt beef sandwich- so good.
(Disclaimer: No longer on the menu at the wonderful Kaf 😩)
What’s been your favourite piece to make so far?
A really satisfying piece was ‘July’– I normally draw rather than paint lots so it was a bit outside my normal comfort zone. I really wanted to do something with more colour and depth, and I had a sort of enchanted forest scene clearly in my mind but I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but when it all came together I was really happy with it. Plus – treehouses always get bonus points for me.
What advice would you give your younger self?
For a long time I didn’t think I liked fish or seafood, so foolish. My biggest mistakes with illustration have been losing momentum- a symptom of being distracted by other projects and my alternate life in architecture. It’s not really ok to stop for months on end. Keep making, doodling something – even if it’s just for fun.
Who’s your favourite artist at The Red Door and what would be your top purchase?
I’m so impressed with the recent stuff from ECA students. Amy Steele’s colourful prints are perfect- my top buy right now would be her print ‘Lost’. Right now I’m also quite into the prints by Louise Smurthwaite. They’re easy going in a way I wish I could draw, kind of light hearted. Her Swimmers Print looks like it should go along with something Tove Jansson wrote.
You can Check out David’s extensive collection of prints on our website, All available framed for Delivery or Store Collection.
We’d like to thank David for taking the time to let us get to know him and his work a little bit more. Have you been following our social media posts? It’s a great place to find out what’s new behind our Red Doors. This week we’re getting into Festival Mode for the month long party ahead. Don’t forget to check out our stories and Highlight Reel too 😉
