David Cobley was born in Northampton, England in 1954. After dropping out of art school at the age of eighteen, Cobley traveled around Europe and spent almost ten years studying and working in Japan before returning to England in 1985 as an illustrator and contemporary artist.

David Cobley has been drawing and painting people since childhood. This fascination with the human form has been a constant passion to Cobley in his paintings. He says: "My paintings are almost entirely about the figure - the human form as it is illuminated, as well as concealed, by the light that falls upon it or around it. Using the effects of light, painting can create the illusion of solid form in space; while at the same time blur distinctions between the two. The medium of paint also enables another kind of illusion to come into play - that of the figure emerging from, yet dissolving into, the pigment which gives it life. In the half-light between highlight and shadow, painting offers the tantalising possibility of drama, intrigue and magic."

Cobley is now well established as a superb portrait artist. His serene and reflective paintings of the female nudes demonstrate outstanding mastery of paint, tone and composition. But David is equally talented as a successful artist of Still Life and Landscape paintings.

David Cobley contemporary paintings can be found and have been exhibited in many art collections including: London Art Galleries such as The National Portrait Gallery, The Victoria Gallery which is an Avon Art Galleries together with Gloucestershire Art Galleries and Oxfordshire Art Galleries

David Cobley has undertaken numerous portrait commissions. These include: The Princess Royal Princess Anne, Ken Dodd OBE, Steven Berkoff and in 2019 the BBC asked Cobley to undertake a painting of Sir David Attenborough as a celebration of his life in broadcasting. He has also painted many other high profile public figures

Cobley was elected a member of: Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1997; New English Art Club in 2000; and Royal West of England Academy in 2001.

In addition to Red Rag British Art Gallery David Cobley art work has been exhibited at other leading British Art Galleries. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the David Cobley artist studio and like all Red Rag British art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

You are viewing the contemporary Red Rag British Art Gallery page for paintings of Figures by the best of British artists. We offer a great choice of British art and British Figurative paintings by leading contemporary British artists.

Our selection of British paintings featuring Figures is easy to view - simply click on the artist name. If you want further details such as size and price for each contemporary painting then click on the individual image for the piece of art which is of interest

All the contemporary paintings of Figures listed have been obtained at the art studio of the British artist. We can therefore guarantee all Red Rag Gallery paintings are genuine pieces of contemporary art from the artist.

Red Rag Gallery is open seven days a week promoting and selling contemporary British Art. There is also a worldwide art shipment service for all purchases of British contemporary paintings.

If you would like to purchase or require further information about contemporary paintings of Figures from Red Rag please email the gallery or

CALL US NOW on 01451 832563 or outside the UK + 44 1451 832563