Dave Gunning – Winter 2025 Exhibition
A Lifelong Dedication to Britain’s Heritage
For our Winter 2025 Exhibition, Ironbridge Fine Arts is proud to present the work of Dave Gunning, a master printmaker and visual artist whose lifelong dedication to Britain’s ancient monuments has shaped an extraordinary artistic journey. Over more than forty years, Dave has combined meticulous observation, technical expertise, and a profound respect for the landscape to create works that bridge history, craft, and contemporary visual expression.
Dave’s commitment to drawing and etching ancient sites began in 1984 during a life-changing encounter at Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber, where he made his first on-site drawing in the rain. The energy of that experience sparked a lifelong devotion to visiting and recording Britain’s prehistoric monuments. From his home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where he maintains his studios and family gallery, Dave has continued this practice, producing prints and steel-etched works inspired by ancient landscapes, monuments, and sacred sites.
Royal Recognition and Jubilee Series
In honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees, Dave created suites of 50, 60, and 70 small monument prints, all accepted into the Royal Collection at Windsor. These works celebrate Britain’s heritage and highlight Dave’s ongoing commitment to keeping these ancient sites at the forefront of public consciousness.
Dave Gunning on Prints for the Late Queen
“When I was invited to receive the late Queen at the opening of The Walsall New Gallery on 5th May 2000, I never imagined the impact that meeting would have on me. Her presence was gracious and made everyone feel special, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.”
At the time, Dave had spent six months on the gallery roof creating a panoramic artwork of the Black Country. Inspired, he began a steel-etched multi-plate artwork. What he expected to take a few weeks consumed over ten years of dedicated work.
The project evolved into 50 small etchings of ancient sites, drawn on-site, presented to the late Queen as a Golden Jubilee gift. Later, he created 60 prints for her Diamond Jubilee and 70 prints to commemorate her 70-year reign, all accepted into the Royal Collection. These twenty years of work were challenging but immensely rewarding, providing an opportunity to highlight Britain’s ancient sites while contributing to their preservation.
Exhibitions and Institutional Acclaim
Dave’s work has been widely exhibited, including numerous shows at Wiltshire Museum, where his exhibition Megalithic Connections – Drawings & Etchings brought together all three sets of his small monument prints for the first time.
Over his career, he has received commissions from the Palace of Westminster and the National Museum of Wales, as well as the Year of the Artist Award from the Arts Council. In February 2025, Wiltshire Museum acquired a major drawing of Avebury for its permanent collection, further cementing his influence in promoting Britain’s ancient sites.
A Continuing Artistic Journey
Dave continues to travel to ancient monuments across the UK, creating richly layered mixed-media works from his on-site drawings. His practice combines etching, drawing, and painting to convey the texture, atmosphere, and scale of these timeless places, reflecting his enduring passion for Britain’s historic landscapes.
Winter 2025 Exhibition at Ironbridge Fine Arts
We are proud to present Dave Gunning’s latest works in our Winter 2025 Exhibition—an opportunity to celebrate his mastery, vision, and lifelong dedication to recording and promoting Britain’s remarkable heritage. Visitors will encounter new and previously unseen works alongside echoes of his celebrated Megalithic Connections series, connecting past and present in a truly compelling visual journey.
