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Born in Dunfermline, from early childhood David Cook was captivated by the natural world. For his first nineteen years he roamed the countryside around Lochgelly.
This early closeness to Mother Earth has moulded his life.
His major influences and heroes were those, which pushed the boundaries almost to breaking point. This has left him with little time for mediocrity.
His gritty determination to succeed clearly stems from his hard working parents, his Father from mining ancestors in Fife, his Mother of crafting stock from Dufftown.
The journey to his hideaway at Seagreens in the northeast has been varied and by no means easy.
His headstrong outlook did not equate with conventional education but his Father wisely ensured that he learned a trade. During his apprenticeship as a bricklayer he piled into a van at 7am each day with the other men and went off to work. The only time for painting, therefore, was at night and in his free time.
David eventually realised that his true desire was to illustrate. There followed much studying in order to get into Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art.
There he was tutored by Alberto Morrocco, an influential figure who has given David a profound understanding of and a competence in traditional life drawing.
As well as winning seven prizes with a thesis on James Guthrie under his belt, David went on to win The James Guthrie Award, itself at The Royal Scottish Academy in 1985.
Now based in Kincardineshire, David lives as near to the sea as is possible without getting your feet wet. There is plenty of scope there for his passion for creativity and his whirlwind existence is still gathering momentum.
A man of great charisma, he paints intuitively by day and by moonlight. His paintings are bold, bright, atmospheric and captivating. Landscapes, seascapes, wild flowers and portraits are all grist to his mill.
He describes himself as the last of the old school, but this does him a disservice in that he embraces modernity in a colourful way. Almost every surface and object inside and outside his cottage is vividly decorated.
His bricklaying past still plays a part in his artistic life. Working outside and making something from nothing, creating shape and texture with a trowel gives him almost as much satisfaction as using a palette knife. Driftwood, metal, cement and concrete are fashioned into artefacts which are displayed in his rambling seashore garden.
Feet planted firmly on the ground, he captures on canvas the sky, land and sea, consumed by creativity. Energy surges through him as he works, sometimes slowly, at others feverishly, which he describes as almost like changing gears.
He has exhibited in major galleries in the UK and overseas and awards have flooded in. But now his endeavours are firmly based on the small patch which is home.
David Cook’s creative output has been shaped by travels in most of the countries of Europe, Africa, the Far East, Australia, the USA and Russia.
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