January 2009 Newsletter
06 January 2009
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The following is a little resume of what has happened in 2008 and what is to come in 2009. Please see the website for more detail.
Latest News
The Three Faces of Eve
David has been working on a new artform for portraiture. Using techniques of modelling in steelmesh and incorporating photography the outcome is stunning and unique, and can be produced at any scale. The resulting sculpture is created in flat steel panel which can either be wall-mounted, suspended from the ceiling or within an easel frame.* It is David’s intention to do a series of portraits of people in the sporting world and he is also considering portraits for private individuals. If commissioning your own portrait is something that might interest you then please contact us to see what is possible. The first sculpture in the series is entitled “Eve”. The Albemarle Gallery exhibited the artist’s proof at Art London in October this year and we are now launching the edition available in three finishes, black , cherry red, and mirrored stainless steel, each in a fine art limited edition of 9. If you look carefully you can see the subject of this portrait reflected in her mirror image. The size, unusually for portraiture, is larger than life-size at 74 x 44.5 cm These sculptures are now available for sale.
*if required, easel frame may be purchased in addition to sculpture at a price of £450 plus vat
To Purchase “Eve” 2008
The 2009 list price is £2,875 inc vat (£2,500 for export outside the EU). You are invited to place an order before
Four New Players at Centre Court
David spent much of the first half of 2008 (and a considerable part of 2007) working on a sculpture for the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon which was commissioned on their behalf by Chris Mather of Mather & Co . David created four giant tennis players in steelmesh and immediately prior to the Championships in June this year they were installed into the atrium space of the new Debenture Holders entrance at Centre Court.
Making this monumental sculpture involved David and studio technicians Geoff Meadows and Ian Lowe full time for a number of months. The stunning lighting effects pictured were designed by Sanjit Bahra of Lighting by Design. Mike Raggett of MR Production filmed David’s progress during the design, fabrication and installation of this major work. The Albemarle Gallery hosted a special event on the middle Sunday of the Championships with a screening of the film and an exhibition of designs and maquettes. The feedback both from the club and from the public has been terrific and David hopes to stage a collaborative exhibition with Sportsworld at Wimbledon during the 2009 Championships. The maquettes and a limited edition panel version of the sculpture will feature in this exhibition.
Making this monumental sculpture involved David and studio technicians Geoff Meadows and Ian Lowe full time for a number of months. The stunning lighting effects pictured were designed by Sanjit Bahra of Lighting by Design. Mike Raggett of MR Production filmed David’s progress during the design, fabrication and installation of this major work. The Albemarle Gallery hosted a special event on the middle Sunday of the Championships with a screening of the film and an exhibition of designs and maquettes. The feedback both from the club and from the public has been terrific and David hopes to stage a collaborative exhibition with Sportsworld at
"mixdoubles", the limited edition sculpture in steel panel was derived from the final maquette for the main piece. There are 9 sculptures in the edition and if you are interested in purchasing, please contact us as soon as possible.
Studio Appointments
The showroom at David’s studio on theThames oppositein Canary Wharf can be visited by appointment for viewing and purchases. Whether you live in London , or are just visiting, and would like to see the work where it is created, do contact us. New work can be seen here first before it travels to other venues worldwide for exhibition. London
Work currently available includes a body of work that David has been working on over the last few months. The unique steelmesh sculptures range in price from £4,000 to £21,000. There are also 5 new editioned images which are available at a special launch price which is 20% below normal prices on any orders placed by the end of the year. The price range for the editioned work is from £250 to £6,500.
Studio appointments are an opportunity to view and to buy, and also to discuss commissions or projects.
2008 Exhibition Review
Despite the enormity of the Wimbledon project which took up a major part of the year, David’s team still managed to fulfil a busy schedule of exhibitions and art fairs.“Genii” a solo show opened at the Albemarle Gallery on10th April 2008 for three weeks. As well as hosting the Wimbledon Event, thealso exhibited David’s work at the beginning of the year at the London Art Fair and in October at Art London. Galerie Van Loon En Simons in Vught Holland showed David’s work at Art Rotterdam, Art Den Bosch, Art Nocturne, Knokke and The Open Art Fair, Albemarle . The Woolff Gallery, London again showed David’s work at the Affordable Art Fairs in London Amsterdam and Utrecht , the Glasgow Art Fair, and Form, London Olympia. Number Nine the Gallery, Birmingham exhibited at The Northern Art Fair, New York Harrogate , Tatton Park Show, the Cambridge Art Fair, Grand Design Birmingham and the Edinburgh Art Fair.
David also participated in group exhibitions with Byard Art, Somerville Gallery Cambridge , View Two gallery Plymouth Liverpool , International Art Consultants and Plateaux Gallery, RBS (Royal British Society of Sculptors) also in London , Win Henstock Gallery London , Buschlen Mowatt Gallery Toronto , and Magidson Fine Art Vancouver . Aspen
When Begbie sculptures are placed outdoors, the transparency and reflective properties of the mesh combined with the ever shifting light conditions produce dynamic and continuously changing imagery. The form can be highlighted as the sunlight falls across the mesh, and at other times the sculpture becomes almost transparent and has a mysterious and ghostly presence. Hannah Peschar has exhibited two Begbie angels in her Surrey Sculpture garden during the 2008 season and Peter de Sausmarez of Artparks International,
2008 saw the beginning of new relationships with four European galleries:
Houses of Art Marbella show a wide range of contemporary art and featured David’s work in their summer exhibition. Gallery owner Marga visited the studio this year and has had an amazing response to David‘s work. Also in Spain , David has been invited by Ana Mercader Gallery in
Absolute Art is a well established, prestigious and 
successful Belgian gallery situated in
Future Exhibitions and Events 2008/9
T he Albemarle Gallery will be exhibiting new work by David Begbie alongside their Gallery ARtists at the London Art Fair which opens on 14th January 2009 at the Business Design Centre in Islington.
“Inspired” is an exhibition of work by contemporary artists celebrating and paying tribute to the incredible influence that Robert Burns has on Scottish culture today. It will open at the Mitchell Library in
on Glasgow 4th April 2009 and will run through to 20 th September.
Curated by Sheilagh Tennant of Artruist , the exhibition marks the 250 th anniversary, in 2009, of Burns’ birth. David will exhibit his portrait of Robert Burns as part of the show.
Talking o f birthdays, Number Nine the Gallery will be presenting a “birthday exhibition” at their gallery in Brindley Place, Birmingham.Opening on 9th April and closing on David’s
birthday at the end of the month, the show will feature many new works including a semi-nude series of partially clothed figures.
In May 2009, Galerie Van Loon en Simons are hosting their inaugural festival of art in and around the grounds of their gallery in Vught,
. They have invited David to put on a solo exhibition in a former church adjacent to the gallery which can be seen behind Palm I, David's hand self portrait. Holland
This fabulous space will provide both challenge and opportunity to exhibit some magnificent large scale works.
Somerville Gallery ,have been showing David’s work since 1999, and in June 2009 Paul and Ben Somerville will host the first solo show of unique and editioned works. The gallery is situated in Mayflower Street in Plymouth. Plymouth
Exhibitions
Christmas Exhibition 2008
On the evening of 11th December 2008 David hosted a Christmas Exhibition and party at his studio in London. The exhibition featured new steelmesh scultpures of "semi - nude" figures, sculptures with a hint of clothing or drapery, as well as new editioned work in steel panel. It was aslso the official launch of David's new portraiture and featured the first in the series of portraits, Eve.
It was an opportunity to view a cohesive exhibtiion of work, some of which will be travelling on to other venues, and to enjoy a relaxing glass of wine.
The evening was a great success. the exhibition will be up until 15th January, and if you would like to visit the studio to view the work, please contact us to make an appointment
Recently Added Works
 "Eve I" (2008) |  "Fifold" (2008) |  "Tufold" (2008) |