David H. Dale
Biography
DAVID HERBERT DALE THE ARTIST FAMOUS FOR BEAD AND STAINED GLASS TECHNIQUE
David Dale is a British Nigerian-born artist. Born to an English father and a Nigerian mother in 1947. He lived in the United Kingdom with his aunt at age 2 where he attended his primary education at Groombridge in England then later he went to Guildford Grammar School, Surrey England for 3 years. After almost 20 years, he returned to Lagos Nigeria where he completed his secondary education at St. Gregory's College. He encountered Bruce Onobrakpeya who was the then art teacher at the college who encouraged his interest in the art.
He further went to study at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1971 specializing in illustration and graphic design. He later moved back to Lagos to practice, working with Bruce Onobrakpeya for a few years before setting up his own studio. In the 1980's he practiced his art, explored other areas of art like advertising, and part-time art teaching with the University of Lagos.
Most of his works especially the early and most popularly known artworks are done in the lino engraving and foil methods that Onobrakpeya practiced. Dale's practice and inspiration from Bruce drove him beyond printmaking through a variety of media including colored beads, charcoal, and stained glass. Some of his works explored the energy and variety of urban life in Lagos. He is known as the master of mixed media beads and stained glass. he was a graphic consultant for the African Architectural Technology Exhibition for FESTAC 77'
He worked consistently in 23 different media in over five decades of his career. Among his regular mediums were;
Oil Color, Beads, Glass, Watercolor, gouache, stained, wrought iron, etching, mosaic, lino print.
Dales's works have featured in 58 shows in countries like Spain, Australia, Holland, Sweden Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the USA, France, the USSR, brazil Canada, the UK, etc
His commissioned works in stained glass can be found at the following places;
Our Saviours Church Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria
Mosaic at St. Agnes Catholic Church Maryland, Lagos, Nigeria.
Murals at MTN building Ibadan, Oyo state, state house marina, Lagos Shell headquarters and stock exchange Nigeria
Perhaps the biggest honor to Dale came in the Gbadamosi-organized soiree, in 2012. It was a celebration of the 40-year-old relationship between the collector and the artist.
David Dale died in 2019, in Lagos at the age of 71 after battling a prolonged stroke ailment.