Faithfull, David

David Faithfull is an artist, printmaker, illustrator and curator. He publishes Artists’ Book, Prints and Multiples under the Semper Fidelis imprint.

Much of his work focuses on the natural environment, through Palindromic and Panoramic forms and sequences.

The ‘Palindromic Landscape’ was conceived by Faithfull to interpret a particular aspect or scene, from diametrically opposing viewpoints or emotional states, regularly incorporating locally sourced oak gall ink. These explorations, often representing the topography of the Hebrides, have been translated into numerous Artists’ Book collaborations and prints since first being exhibited in Verona in 1997. They have subsequently evolved into collaborations with Scottish writers, their text providing an additional antithesis or counterpoint to the visual thesis.

These include publishing ‘Jura’ with the poet John Burnside in 2008, additionally featured as a visual synthesis in Polygon's 'The Spirit of Jura' with writer and psychogeographer Will Self.

Other publishing collaborations include the Gaelic Arts Agency’s ‘An Leabhar Mor’ interpreting Uist poet Donald Macintyre’s words and ‘Centum’, in collaboration with poet Ken Cockburn for the Scottish fund managers Baillie Gifford.

Additional projects involve curating the highly acclaimed exhibition ‘Inkubator’. This revolved around the problematic nature of Artist’s Books, where the actual handling and curatorial presentation of these works, are often in conflict with their integral conception.

He has exhibited extensively and has work in collections including Tate Britain and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, as well as numerous private collections and is currently on the Boards of Edinburgh Printmakers and the SSA.