David Folley, (born 1960 in Plymouth) is an English painter based in Plymouth, Devon, UK. His private studio is located in the north of the city and the public face is his gallery and studio "Discover Folley", situated in Plymouth’s historic Barbican. His style of painting has been influenced by Paul Cézanne, Stanhope Forbes of the Newlyn School, Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, and Roger Somville, a Belgium contemporary painter. Folley's interests include "Political theory and the interactions between individual and society", colour deficiency and colour perception.
2005 onwards Middlesex University where he is reading for his MA in Aesthetic Theory, currently on sabbatical
2005 Graduated from Exeter University with a BA in Theology, Philosophy and fine art
Works
Folley has painted subjects that range from seascapes, portraits, and most recently his life size equine painting of the famous British racehorse Frankel. He has also painted a near life size Arabian Horse called Saffron who is stabled at Combe Farm.
Folley's works include:
2012 Frankel: The Frighteningly Phenomenal Frankel, 7DC009
2012 Combe Farm Arabian: Saffron, 7DC00B
2012 Frankel: The Phenomenal Frankel, 7DC008
2012 Frankel: The Thunder of Hooves, 7DC003
2008 Morris One, depicting The Plymouth Morris Men dancing the 'Sun Up' upon Plymouth Hoe, on 1 May 2008
2008 Jojo i, The 9 Cast Members
2008 Jojo ii, Painter in Residence, Barbican Theatre, Plymouth
1998 Schröder Professor Emeritus
1997 Spirit of Diana, a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales
1997 "Mad bad and dangerous to eat" which depicts a blue cow and a smog engulfed rainforest, exhibited as a protest outside a McDonald's restaurant
1997 "Blood Brothers" a tribute to Willy Russell, named after the musical which is about separated twins
1997 McDonald's: Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Eat
1996 Folley was commissioned by The Revd. Raymond Chudley to paint his first altar painting The Descent from the Cross, for The Jesus Chapel, St. Andrew's Church, Wickford, Essex. The Bishop of Bradwell the Rt Revd Dr Laurie Green, unveiled and blessed the work on 5 May 1996, at the 09.30am Eucharist.
1996 In April, Plymouth Gdynia Twinning Panel sponsored Folley to visit Gdynia (Poland), to research and create a painting to commemorate the 20th Twinning Anniversary between the two cities. He produce over ten works, two of which were selected by the committee for presentation to the City of Plymouth and the City of Gdynia. The two selected works were: Gdynia Port: Looking from Kamienna Gora to Plymouth and Skwer Plymouth to Gdynia.