My name is Dave Upton and I live in Streetly, Sutton Coldfield. In the year 2000 I decided to set myself a new challenge for the new Millennium.
It was time to turn my life-long hobby into a business – giving watercolour lessons.
I discovered my love of art when I was at school. It was my forte. I wasn’t very academically minded, I used to skip lessons to paint the scenery for school productions. One painting that still stands out in my mind, was a scene of the Three Wise Men, a bit larger than life-size.
I spent a lot of time on this particular painting and received a lot of good comments. I even got a commendation from the Head Master. That was when I knew I would take up a career in art.
During the early 1960’s, I attended Sutton Coldfield Art College and Birmingham Art College. Much to my regret, I did not finish my course because my parents could no longer afford the fees. Forced into employment, I found work as a layout artist with a local company. From there I went on to gain experience as a sign writer and poster writer, until I took the plunge for the first time in 1970 and went self-employed.
I enjoyed 25 successful years as a self-employed sign writer until computer technology began to take over. The cut-out vinyl transfers were becoming increasingly popular, making hand painted signs a thing of the past.
Determined to carry on using my artistic skills, I found work in the local prisons, as a visiting lecturer. This is where I really got a taste for teaching art – I got such a buzz from passing on my knowledge and seeing the progress made by my pupils.
I hope you like my paintings!
What lovely paintings. Very talented indeed 😊