Past President of The Royal Watercolour Society, acclaimed internationally and considered one of England’s leading watercolourists, David Paskett’s glimpses of everyday Chinese life make compelling viewing. 

His distinctive watercolour technique is founded in oil and tempera painting with an emphasis on drawing, characterised by detail, clear shadows, controlled tone and rhythmic repeated pattern.

Born in 1944, David Paskett studied art at Hornsey, Exeter and Liverpool. In supporting his career as a painter he has been a teacher, writer, singer/songwriter and broadcaster.

A member of The Royal Watercolour Society since 2001 he was elected president  2009-11.

Now an honorary citizen of Fabriano, David, first met Giorgio Pellegrini, establishing a watercolour connection with the Museo Della Carta, accompanying  an exhibition of ARWS artists to the Watercolour Biennale in 2010. 

Since then David has enjoyed frequent visits to Fabriano  and participated in each Biennale, last year with a one man show as president of the jurors. 

David lived and painted in Hong Kong 1986-1990.   

Since his first trip to China in 1986 David has returned regularly sourcing new material for paintings. His personal and detailed observations portray the rich contrasts of everyday life on the streets, in markets and on waterways in town and country.  

Together they  present  a unique  collection of personal observations of China whilst  standing as an archive documenting thirty six years of change.

David has gained respect amongst Chinese painters for his sympathetic images of their country.  

He has participated as guest exhibitor, lecturer and judge at international watercolour festivals and competitions in major Chinese  art academies and museums. 

Inspirations for his paintings and recent sculptures also come from frequent travels through Europe plus a life long engagement with museums. After painting in London’s Science museum 1990-91 he moved to Oxford, to become  artist in residence at the Pitt Rivers Museum 1992-1993.   

David’s ceramic paintings, made in Jingdezhen, were exhibited  at the Xu Zhimo Festival in  Kings College, Cambridge 2017. 

He is currently  working  with The Cambridge Rivers Project on a series of paintings for publication based on The Chinese Kunqu Opera, The Peony Pavilion, in association with Fuzhou in Jiangxi province, the birth place of playwright, Tang Xianzu.

David’s work is in many international private and public collections including the Royal Collection of HM The Queen. He is a regular exhibitor at London’s Bankside Gallery, home of The Royal Watercolour Society.  

 In 2015 a retrospective show of his work was held in The Hong Kong Club.

 A Vision of China: The paintings of David Paskett was published in 2004.

Discover the breadth of David’s work on his  new website: davidpaskett.co.uk 

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