Dave Sparkes has swung between art forms across his career.
A Bondi Beach Public school and Dover Heights Boys High alumni, Dave documents the world around him through photography, writing and painting.
Photography and Writing:
1984 – First published photographs in Surfing World Magazine.
1996 – 2017:
Staff Photographer/writer: for Tracks magazine. Contracted photographer: for Rip Curl.
Numerous photographic and written assignments completed for Rip Curl, Carve, Quiksilver, Billabong, magazines worldwide and many other surf industry companies.
Photographed covers for magazines in Australia, US, France, Spain, New Zealand, UK, including the cover of the 2005 Surfer Magazine Photo Annual.
2011 – Book of words and photographs, titled “The Wave: Tales From the Impact Zone” published in Australia and New Zealand by Hachette Publishing.
Painting:
2010 – to present:
Landscape watercolourist, focusing on en plein air work. Finalist in numerous art awards, including the 2024 John Glover Prize, the 2023 Elaine Bermingham Watercolour Prize, the 2022 Heysen Landscape Prize. Dave is also a five time finalist in the BAM Art Prize.
“Watercoloured Waves” (for Tracks magazine): a regular column of words, illustrated by a watercolour painting, based on past exploits as a surf photographer/writer.
2017 – studied with Greg Allen.
2022 – studied with Joseph Zbukvic.
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