Trees For Your Wall

The Bingley Gallery is proud to present a new exhibition of work by its resident artist, David Starley. While his trademark tree and woodland paintings remain a strong feature, this collection also explores a wider range of local landscapes.

The exhibition title, Trees for Your Wall, is inspired by one particular painting—a view of the now-destroyed Sycamore Gap tree. It reflects David’s enduring interest in both trees and archaeology, while also serving as a poignant reminder of the senseless felling of this much-loved landmark.

This show also marks the gallery’s first official display of a painting created alongside archaeological excavations led by a team from Bradford University. These excavations sought to uncover the remains of the 1904 Bradford Exhibition, a remarkable event that attracted 2.2 million visitors. In David’s artwork, a contemporary view of the park is partially scratched away to reveal elements of the historic exhibition, including an industrial exhibition building, a concert hall, an art gallery, and even a Somali village. Today, the only surviving structure is Cartwright Hall Art Gallery.

David’s work aims to evoke an emotional response, encouraging viewers to see even familiar scenes in a new and meaningful way. His distinctive impasto technique, applied with a palette knife, creates richly textured, almost sculptural surfaces that subtly shift with changing light throughout the day.

A preview evening will be held on Thursday 19 March, from 7–9pm.

The exhibition runs until 26 April 2026. Normal gallery opening hours are Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

In addition to David’s exhibition, the gallery regularly showcases work by around 40 contemporary artists, alongside a similar number of earlier Bradford artists. Due to space limitations, some of these historic works are currently displayed at Carlton Antiques in Salts Mill, Saltaire.