David Downton
Illustrator
David Downton is a fashion illustrator. His classically elegant, yet contemporary images have been a key factor in the revival of interest in the tradition of fashion illustration.
In 1996 he was commissioned to draw at the Paris Couture Shows by a Sunday supplement, and since that time he has worked principally as a fashion illustrator. His reports from the shows have appeared in V Magazine, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, The Times, The New York Times and the Telegraph Magazine among others.
Downton’s commercial client list includes; Chanel, Dior, Tiffany's New York, Topshop, Harrods, Estée Lauder and the V&A Museum. In addition he has made portraits from life of some of the world's most beautiful women including: Dita von Teese, Erin O’Connor, Catherine Deneuve, Iman, Rachel Weisz, Paloma Picasso, Karlie Kloss, Joan Smalls, Charlotte Rampling and Kristin Scott Thomas. In 2009 he was commissioned to produce four illustrated covers of Cate Blanchett for the anniversary edition of Australian Vogue.
In 2006, Downton was made a Visiting Professor at the London College of Fashion, and in May 2009 he was awarded and honorary Doctorate from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. In 2012 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts, London and this year a further honorary Doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton.
In September 2011 he was appointed the first-ever fashion artist in residence at Claridge’s Hotel in London. In this capacity he has been commissioned to draw the hotel’s most illustrious guests from the world of style and fashion.
Downton became writer and editor-in-chief of Pourquoi Pas? A Journal of Fashion Illustration; the world’s only journal dedicated to fashion illustration, an area that he explored further in his book, Masters of Fashion Illustration, published by Laurence King Publishing, in September 2010. His debut monograph was published in 2015.
David Downton is a fashion illustrator. His classically elegant, yet contemporary images have been a key factor in the revival of interest in the tradition of fashion illustration.
In 1996 he was commissioned to draw at the Paris Couture Shows by a Sunday supplement, and since that time he has worked principally as a fashion illustrator. His reports from the shows have appeared in V Magazine, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, The Times, The New York Times and the Telegraph Magazine among others.
Downton’s commercial client list includes; Chanel, Dior, Tiffany's New York, Topshop, Harrods, Estée Lauder and the V&A Museum. In addition he has made portraits from life of some of the world's most beautiful women including: Dita von Teese, Erin O’Connor, Catherine Deneuve, Iman, Rachel Weisz, Paloma Picasso, Karlie Kloss, Joan Smalls, Charlotte Rampling and Kristin Scott Thomas. In 2009 he was commissioned to produce four illustrated covers of Cate Blanchett for the anniversary edition of Australian Vogue.
In 2006, Downton was made a Visiting Professor at the London College of Fashion, and in May 2009 he was awarded and honorary Doctorate from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. In 2012 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts, London and this year a further honorary Doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton.
In September 2011 he was appointed the first-ever fashion artist in residence at Claridge’s Hotel in London. In this capacity he has been commissioned to draw the hotel’s most illustrious guests from the world of style and fashion.
Downton became writer and editor-in-chief of Pourquoi Pas? A Journal of Fashion Illustration; the world’s only journal dedicated to fashion illustration, an area that he explored further in his book, Masters of Fashion Illustration, published by Laurence King Publishing, in September 2010. His debut monograph was published in 2015.
