OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES David Downton has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading fashion artists. His classically elegant, yet highly contemporary images have been a key factor in the revival of interest in the tradition of fashion illustration and David is a worthy successor to the great artists in his field including Gruau, Eric and Antonio.

In 1996 he was commissioned to draw at the Paris couture by a Sunday supplement, and since that time has worked principally as a fashion illustrator and portrait artist. His reports from the shows have appeared in – among others – V Magazine, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Times, The New York Times, Telegraph Magazine and Vanity Fair.

David’s commercial client list includes: Chanel, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Topshop, Joyce Hong Kong, Harrods, Estée Lauder and the V&A. In addition David has produced portraits from life of some of the world’s most beautiful and iconic women: Cate Blanchett, Dita Von Teese, Erin O’Connor, Catherine Deneuve, Iman, Linda Evangelista, Rachel Weisz, Paloma Picasso, Joan Collins and Anjelica Houston.

He has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by London College of Fashion, Academy of Art University San Francisco and the University of Wolverhampton.

David produced the magazine Pourquoi Pas? A Journal of Fashion Illustration, at the time the world’s only journal dedicated to fashion illustration. He explored this further in his book Masters of Fashion Illustration published by Laurence King in September 2010. David’s first monograph Portraits of the World’s Most Stylish Women, also published by Laurence King, was launched in September 2015. Since then he has produced two limited edition books: DD21 to celebrate 21 years of drawing at the Paris couture. and Drawing Carmen, a celebration of his 25 year working friendship.

In September 2011 he was appointed the first ever fashion artist in residence at Claridge’s hotel in London, in which capacity he has been commissioned to draw the hotel’s most illustrious guests from the world of style and fashion.

He is currently an editor at large at Graydon Carter’s weekly newsletter, Airmail.