David Goatley, SFCA, is widely recognized as one of the North West's leading portrait painters. Originally trained at Camberwell School of Art in London, England, where he was born, David has completed well over 200 portrait commissions all across North America since arriving here with his family in 1992.

Of his work, David says: "When I think about what I do, every portrait seems like a fresh journey, a voyage of discovery, as I am privileged to explore the uniqueness of others. A portrait affirms; it gives the gift of self to its subject. It says: 'yes, you are worth spending this time over, your story deserves to be told, you should be recorded for you will not pass this way again.' This has absolutely nothing to do with vanity and everything to do with the value of each and every one of us. There is still so much to learn, so many people to paint, so much room to grow. The mystery has never seemed richer, the journey more worthwhile. I'm with the great Dr Johnson, who said: 'portrait painting is a reasonable and natural consequence of affection' — who is not worthy of being recorded in that spirit?"

His sitters have included local heroes Robert Bateman, Valdy, Ted Harrison, Tenor Richard Margison and her Excellency Iona Campagnolo, the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, whilst nationally he painted the official parliamentary portraits of former Speaker Gilbert Parent and Prime Minister Kim Campbell. He recently completed portraits of the retiring presidents of both the University of Alberta and Canadian Pacific Railways.

In the USA he has painted many leading business figures and their families, working so far, in 19 states. Recent works have included Peter DeVaux, Chairman of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Library, Virginia, Mr. John Murry Springfield for Memphis University School, the Headmaster of The Community School, Sun Valley, Idaho and Ben Catlin, President, Catlin Developements, Sacramento, California.

David has also painted several large scale works for churches, private homes and public spaces, including the mural 'Letters from the Front' on the Post Office in Chemainus — voted best mural in Canada's famous 'Town of Murals'

Solo exhibitions have included 'Stagestruck' a series about the backstage world of theater, music and dance, Into the Light' an exploration of Christianity in today's world, 'Oil and Water' an exhibition of portraits and other works, 'A Journey to India' painted in response to his travels there and in October 2008, 'My London' a celebration of all he loves about his original home.

David has been a finalist in Artist Magazine's portrait of the year competition and his work has been featured in International Artist five times. He was a founding member of the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists and was elected a senior signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists in 2002 and awarded their prestigious Early Achievement Award for gaining international recognition in a relatively short time. He is proud to be a 'Painter at Painters,' an invitation only group of British Columbia's finest artists, to which he was elected in 2001.

David shares his love of painting teaching many classes and workshops throughout the year, for groups, Summer Schools and Art Societies across the country and in the United States.