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David Yorke was born 1949 in New Jersey and was raised in South Florida. At a
very early age, he discovered an ambition to express himself through the visual
arts. His family heritage was filled with artistic influences that encouraged
his creative pursuits. His formal training was in advertising design, at the
University of Florida.
David began his art career as a commercial illustrator/designer. His corporate
art spanned about 35 years , starting in Miami as an education televison media
artist, and eventually led to other creative pursuits in Georgia as a toy
prototype designer/photographer, while also freelancing as a book cover
illustrator. In 1995, he trained as an animation background painter with the
Florida Disney Studios. This became a turning point for his career, and was
helpful in further developing his skills as a painter. David worked on five
animated films to his credit.
In 2004, he left the corporate art world to satisfy a long desired endeavor as a
gallery painter. His representational painting style and historical narrative
of Native Americans and the American Western Frontier, have been the main focus
for his work. Being raised in the 1950s culture of the TV western, played an
important role with his fascination of Western Americana.
David works from living models that he photographs, based upon his preliminary
conceptual sketches. A major aspect of his work also involves extensive
historical research and collecting regalia and implements that he uses for
reference. David frequently constructs his own artifacts inspired from museum
collections to ensure the authenticity of the period.
He has exhibited paintings in numerous shows, galleries and auctions, including
The Autry National Center, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, National Cowboy &
Western Heritage Museum, Altermann Galleries and Auctioneers and Settlers West
Galleries. His work was first featured on the cover of Western Art Collector
Magazine in 2008. He is currently represented by the Plainsmen Gallery in
Dunedin, Florida. His work has been acquired internationally by private and
corporate collectors, including Raymond James Financial Center in St.
Petersburg, Florida, The Booth Western Art Museum and The Ella Sharp Museum of
Art and History.
David's home and studio are located in Clermont, Florida.
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