David Remfry RA

David Remfry RA

David Remfry RA is a contemporary British artist whose career spans more than 30 years. He is a figurative painter who works almost exclusively in watercolour.

Artist profile

David Remfry RA studied at Hull College of Art from 1959 to 1964. His first solo show was held in London in 1973 and he has since had more than 50 international solo exhibitions. His first show in the United States was at the Ankrum Gallery, Los Angeles in 1980. He has exhibited regularly since then at galleries in New York, Los Angeles and Florida and in 2002 had a solo exhibition at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, NY, Museum of Modern Art affiliate, which was curated by Alanna Heiss and Daniel Marzona. Solo museum shows in England include the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, (1975 and 2005) Middlesbrough Art Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Remfry has also exhibited many times at galleries in Holland and Germany.


Remfry was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in 2006. He was awarded the Hugh Casson Drawing Prize at the 2010 Summer Exhibition and in 2016 he was appointed the Eranda Professor of Drawing at the Royal Academy Schools.


Remfry has collaborated with the Royal Academy on a number of projects. He curated Only Connect for the RA Art Sales programme, an exhibition which explored the relationship between the artist and the drawn line. Remfry also developed an exclusive range of items for the RA Shop, all featuring his characterful portraits of dogs.

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