Dave White at The Carnegie Club

Posted: 31 July 2020

The Carnegie Club is delighted to announce that Dave White's 'Albion' exhibition, presented by the Loughran Gallery, has been extended until July 2021. 

Over the past few years, The Carnegie Club has hosted exhibitions from some of the art world's most esteemed figures including Ralph Steadman and Phil Shaw. In 2020, we are delighted to welcome renowned artist Dave White to Skibo with a year-long exhibition of his acclaimed work, presented by the Loughran Gallery. Born and raised in Liverpool, Dave spent many hours in the city's Carnegie Library, and he shares those memories below.

Dave is a contemporary British Artist who dedicates his work to celebrating popular culture and interpreting emotive issues. White graduated with a BA (Hons) Fine Art (Painting) at Liverpool John Moores University and has enjoyed success from the inception of his career, with selection for the Northern Graduates exhibition at the Royal College of Art in 1994, whilst also debuting at Sotheby's London and international art fairs. Since then, Dave has exhibited his work around the world.

Artist Dave White

While Dave has pursued many subject matters over the last twenty years, for the last decade he has been focused on environmental issues by promoting endangered species with his signature expressive portraits and he has supported the work of Virunga National Park, Tusk, Rainforest Foundation UK, and Wild Aid through charitable collaborations and donations of work.

Dave's work will be on show in the Skibo Gallery until the end of the year.

Blue Tit by Dave White

'My Carnegie Memories' by Dave White

Growing up in Crosby, a suburb of Liverpool as a boy, I spent many of my childhood hours in the Carnegie Library which was opposite my dad's butchers shop. It was and still is a wondrous Edwardian style baroque building, which as a child with its parquet floors, high ceilings and sash windows felt like a palace to me at the time.

The small chairs and dedicated children's section felt like my very own world, with a fabulous selection of books that I otherwise would not have known about. In later life as an art student, I spent many an hour after school or university in the reading areas and went on to loan the larger scale beautiful art books. It was also the first place that I went to use a computer, in the early days when they first came out and were beyond a household budget.

Rabbit II by Dave White

The library, like so many of Andrew Carnegie's legacy, has such a special place in the hearts of the community. Today the library stands empty and has been vacant for the last six years whilst running into disrepair, a victim of budget cuts by the local council. A community group and local enterprise trust are seeking £1.25 million to hopefully regenerate it and bring the Grade II listed building back to life. Although a suitable tenant and donor have yet to be found.

My dad walked down 'Carnegie Avenue' every day to work, leaving at 4am to dress his butchers shop window. It was indeed a sight to behold, like something from bygone times. I like to think I have his creative genes and work ethic. He sadly passed away the week that I graduated from university with my Fine Art degree, although he did see me awarded an arts prize before that time and was incredibly proud.

Pheasant Oil by Dave White

I can only imagine today, that with my work hanging in Andrew Carnegie's home, he would be literally bursting with pride that his son - who dedicated his life to his passion - is fulfilling his dreams. 

Thank you so much to all at Skibo Castle and The Carnegie Club for making this project possible, and to Loughran Gallery for the opportunity.

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Dave White is represented by the Loughran Gallery

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