Fashion artist receives honour

David Downton, one of the world’s leading fashion artists, will be with an Honorary Degree of Doctor Arts at a ceremony on Thursday 17 April.

The honour from the University’s School of Art and Design was made in recognition of David’s outstanding international contribution in the field of illustration, in particular fashion illustration.

David’s classically elegant, yet highly contemporary images, have been a key factor in the revival of interest in the tradition of fashion illustration.

David studied Bachelor of Arts degree in Illustration and Graphics at the University of Wolverhampton in 1981 and has accomplished many achievements since.

In 1996, he was commissioned to draw at the Paris Couture Shows by a Sunday supplement, and since that time he has worked principally as a fashion illustrator.

His reports from the shows have appeared in V Magazine, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Times, The New York Times and the Telegraph Magazine among others.

David’s commercial client list includes; Chanel, Dior, Tiffanys New York, Harrods, Estée Lauder and the V&A Museum.

In addition, David has produced portraits of some of the world’s most beautiful and iconic women including Dita Von Teese, Erin O’Connor, Catherine Deneuve, Iman, Linda Evangelista, Rachel Weisz, and Paloma Picasso.

One of his recent commissions was to produce four illustrated covers of Cate Blanchett for Australian Vogue.

In 2006, David was made a Visiting Professor at the London College of Fashion and in May 2009, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco.

He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the world’s only journal dedicated to fashion illustration, ‘Pourquoi Pas? A Journal of Fashion Illustration’.

David’s book ‘Masters of Fashion Illustration’ was released in September 2010 and in July 2011 he was appointed the first ever Fashion Artist in Residence at Claridge’s Hotel in London.

The University of Wolverhampton’s graduation ceremonies take place at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre from Wednesday 16 April to Thursday 17 April 2014.

ENDS

For more information please contact Danielle Taylor in the Media Relations Office on
01902 322448

Date Issued: 11 April 2014