Leigh Davis

Leigh Davis (b. 1976, Shrewsbury) is known for abstract paintings and sculptures shaped by his interest in landscape, geology and the built environment.

Davis studied silversmithing and jewellery in Birmingham from 1995 to 1997 before completing a multidisciplinary degree in ceramics, wood, metal and plastics at the University of Wolverhampton. After graduating, he established his first studio and continued to work across painting, sculpture and ceramics, gradually developing an increasingly abstract visual language.

Landscape has remained an important source for his work, particularly the coastlines and harbours of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as well as the geology and weathered surfaces of these places. He has also drawn on industrial and architectural subjects, including abandoned mining structures and derelict boats. More recently, his work has extended into abstracted figuration and still life. He works predominantly in oil, but has also produced works in acrylic, mixed media, bronze, ceramics and assemblage.

Davis has described the point at which “the form, colours, surface and composition take on a life of their own” as central to his process, and his work has increasingly moved away from direct representation towards freer abstraction.

He has exhibited widely in Britain since 2012. His first major solo exhibition, A New Perspective, was held at The Nine British Art in 2018, followed by Further into Abstraction in 2021, Pushing Boundaries in 2022 and Process in 2024. His work was also included in St Ives at The Redfern in 2026, and his paintings and sculptures are held in private collections in Britain and internationally.

Leigh Davis is represented by The Redfern Gallery.