David Yorke grew up knowing he wanted to be an artist.
Growing up in South Florida during the 1950’s & 60’s era of TV Westerns and Sci-Fi Flying Saucer movies, was the best stimulus that my imaginative mind needed to be thoroughly entertained or that would inspire me to create my own models, props and 8mm movies. I can’t recall a time when I wasn’t drawing pictures or building something unusual. Being an ARTIST was a label people put on me, but I just did what came naturally, what I loved doing. My family had a leaning towards artistic endeavors, and I was fortunate to have had parents and teachers who encouraged my creative exploits.
Studying Advertising Design in college became a natural progression in my search to find a practical way to have a career as an artist. My earliest job pursuits led me to concentrate mainly with illustration. For about 25 years, I produced art for 2 corporate employers. I began my art career in Miami, with TV Media Production, which later led to Art Directing, and other creative opportunities with Toy Prototype Design and Product Photography with the company that created Cabbage Patch Kids. In 1995, I was recruited by the Florida Disney Studios, where I became an Animation Background Painter. Having worked on several feature films, including “Mulan”, ”Lilo & Stitch”, “Brother Bear” and others, was invaluable in teaching me new traditional as well as digital painting skills. However, in 2004, the Disney/MGM Animation Studios closed production, and I was out of a job!
All these art experiences paved a way for me to finally leave the corporate art world, and explore another long passion of mine, as a fine art gallery painter. With virtually unlimited subjects to choose from, I decided to concentrate primarily with illustrating the Pioneer Western Frontier. My work has focussed between doing landscape/wildlife, the adventures and challenges with the pioneer explorers and Native American cultures.
Having been inspired by TV westerns and films, much of my work today reflects these historical themes and lifestyle situations, while portraying the ‘look’, the personalities and character of the people representing that period. Being an artist is what I do, but also a reflection of who I am, with my paintings being deeply personal and creatively challenging. I’ve made it a career, but it’s been a lifelong pursuit and joy, to be able to develop and express this visual gift of creativity, while sharing it with others.
My paintings have been represented by numerous galleries, auctions and museum shows, first being showcased in the 2008 issue of Western Art Collector magazine. My work has been acquired internationally by private and corporate collectors, including the permanent collections of The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, and the Booth Western Art Museum.
The work shown on this website, represents a portfolio collection of some of my favorite, but mostly sold art. More recent and available work, can be sourced through the galleries that are listed herein. My residence and studio are currently located in Clermont, Florida.
To see David Yorke’s work and see the American Frontier come to life, click below.