After my blockbuster first guest, I'm thrilled to have sat down for the second episode of A Life Curated. with the worlds greatest fashion artist and Claridge’s artist in residence , DAVID DOWNTON.

It’s often written that David has single handedly revived interest in fashion portraiture bringing the golden age of illustration to the 21st century with his classically elegant, yet highly contemporary images all executed in his distinct sweeping style.

In 1996 David got his big break when he was sent to draw the Paris Couture starting with unparalleled access to Valentino and Versace at the Ritz. Since then he hasn’t looked back and counts Chanel, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, Fenwick, Harrods, Tiffany and the V & A amongst his clients.

David’s portraits of the worlds most iconic women include Laura Bailey, Iman, Dita von Teese, Erin O'connor, Gillian Anderson, Catherine Deneuve and Jasmine Guinness and his work routinely appears in the The New York Times, Vogue, V Magazine, Harpers Bazaar and most recently Vanity Fair.

In this 55 minute odyssey and recorded from his suite at Claridge’s, David and I discuss his inspiration in the early years, how he navigates the personalities in the fashion world, opening that invisible door from a commercial illustrator to the high octane world he now inhabits, tells us the key ingredients of how he made it, the process of a life drawing and if Warhol had Marilyn, Sargeant has Madame X, who is his favourite subject?

Put the lead on the dog, whip on that coat or lie back on the sofa, just remember to plug me in and turn up the volume for this fabulous episode.

Thank you to DD for being such a brilliant guest and an all around class act.

Produced by Martin Lumsden

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