THE ARTIST BEHIND THE PAINTINGS
Painting What It Feels Like to Be in the Landscape
David Mankin creates expressive abstract paintings inspired by the wild Cornish landscape — works that explore colour, surface, memory and emotion rather than simply reproducing a view.
Scheduled Exhibitions 2026
Previous Exhibitions 2019 -2026
Previous Exhibitions 2013-2018
From Landscape to Canvas
My work begins in the landscape.
Living and working in Cornwall, I spend time walking and immersing myself in the coast — noticing shifting light, changing weather, the movement of the sea, textures underfoot and the small details that are easy to overlook.
Those experiences stay with me when I return to the studio. I’m not interested in reproducing a particular view. Instead, I work from the memories, feelings and fragments that remain, allowing them to develop through layers of paint, mark-making and continual change.
Over time, this has become the language of my work: paintings shaped by the landscape, but not confined by it. I want each piece to hold something of what it feels like to be there — the stillness and movement, the uncertainty, the energy and the emotional connection we can have with a place.
The Landscape Is the Beginning
IMMERSION
Everything begins with being in the landscape — walking, observing and absorbing its rhythms, textures, shifting light and changing moods.
FEELING OVER DESCRIPTION
The aim is not to recreate a picturesque view. The paintings explore what remains after the experience: memory, emotion, atmosphere and a sense of place.
RISK & CHANGE
The work develops intuitively through layers, gestures and reworking. Control sits alongside freedom, fullness alongside space, allowing the painting to evolve rather than forcing it towards a predetermined result.
A Process of Discovery
Each painting develops gradually through a process of building, covering, revealing and responding.
Marks are made and reworked. Surfaces change. Moments of raw energy are balanced by quieter areas of space.
This layered approach allows the painting to move beyond the original source and become something in its own right — carrying a rhythm of stillness and movement, much like the coast itself.
Rooted in Cornwall
David lives in Perranuthnoe, a Cornish village set between the cliffs and the sea.
The landscape is part of the everyday rhythm of his life as well as his work. Coastal walks, sketches, beachcombing fragments, literary quotes and observations are collected and preserved along the way, gradually becoming part of the visual language of the paintings.
Cornwall is not simply something David paints. It is a place he experiences, returns to and continually discovers.
NCL - Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line https://www.ncl.com/uk/en/ have commissioned a number of large paintings to hang on their iconic cruise ships for the public areas, offices and private suites. Flashing surf is notable piece measuring 150 x 150cm which was commissioned for the Viva luxury cruise ship.
English Heritage
'Passage' is a specially commissioned painting for the English Heritage 2019/20 handbook cover and member cards. Mankin was selected from 28 artists for the commission. English Heritage care for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites including world famous places such as Stonehenge, Hadrian's Wall and Tintagel Castle. They welcome 10 million visitors each year and have 1million + members. Painted over a period of three months, 'Passage' represents my response to the iconic Cornish landmark - Tintagel Castle - a beautifully rugged site on the wild edges of the North Cornish coast. The painting measures 90cm x120cm. You can watch a short documentary about my inspirations and the process of making ‘Passage'.
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