BIO

David Downton is internationally the most respected and celebrated fashion artist and portraitist working today with a deep understanding for the genre that clearly resonates in his work. With his sweeping style and a perfect economy of line, Downton is the natural successor to the original twentieth century masters of fashion illustration Carl Erickson, René Bouët Willaumez and René Bouché with a hint of the more graphic line of René Gruau. These artists were the epitome of fashion drawing at its finest and it is entirely correct for Downton to be placed within this illustrious grouping. Downton carries the golden age of fashion illustration into the twenty first century with an unparalleled sophistication. Since the 1990s, Downton has been invited to draw the Paris haute couture shows just as the original masters were invited to do. Amongst an extensive list of clients with whom Downton has collaborated are Dior, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Harrods and Estée Lauder and his work has featured regularly in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Luxure Magazine and V Magazine. Downton’s work as a portrait painter echoes the talents of de László and Singer Sargent. He expertly blurs the lines between fashion and fine portraiture and has consequently been invited to paint some of the most famous and beautiful icons of our age including Cate Blanchett, Dita Von Teese, Carmen Dell’Orefice, Catherine Deneuve, Joan Collins, Iman, Linda Evangelista, Rachel Weisz and Paloma Picasso. In 2011 Downton was appointed the first Artist-in-Residence for Claridge’s Hotel, London to sketch the hotel’s most illustrious guests from the world of fashion and style. Downton’s portraits are now held in the hotel’s permanent collection and currently line the entrance to the French Salon. To celebrate The Victoria & Albert Museum’s seminal exhibition ‘Golden Age of Couture’ (2007), Downton was invited to draw the exhibition artwork. Downton acts as Editor at Large writing and illustrating for Airmail magazine edited by former Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter and has written two bestselling books; Masters of Fashion Illustration and Portraits of the World’s Most Stylish Women (Laurence King). His most recent book Drawing Carmen was published in 2021 (DD Publishing Ink). Downton’s work is held in the permanent collections of The Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Palais Galliera Musée de la Mode, Paris and The Frances Neady Collection of Original Fashion Illustration, New York. Museum exhibitions have included The Victoria & Albert Museum, London and Museo ABC, Madrid. Downton’s influence and sublime eye is key to the revival of fashion illustration as a refined and entirely artful medium in the communication of fashion, style and beauty.