Biography
Bryanston School, Dorset
Magdalene College, Cambridge University
Bournemouth College of Art
Brighton College of Art: Fine Art (painting and sculpture) BA (hons) 1969
David Hensel's output covers many media, including sculpture in stone and bronze, drawings and the jewellery for which he has been known internationally for 25 years, in which he combines precious materials with a wide range of others, often carving semi-precious stones, wood or ivory to incorporate in pieces that then exist both as wearable jewels and pieces of personal sculpture. He employs a distinctive representational element in jewellery design, imagery of natural forms realised in natural materials.
His unique approach and inventiveness in jewellery design has been of considerable influence,
and he has an international reputation as one of England's leading Artist-Jewellers, well
represented in major public and private collections.
He is a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors.
Associate Lecturer Fine Art University College Chichester
Exhibitions and Events include:
Solo exhibitions: London, Electrum Gallery 1977Munich, Galerie Rutzmoser 1978,1981, 1992
South East Arts, 1996
Group shows, London: Goldsmiths' Hall, V&A Museum, Crafts Council, Electrum,
Bentley & Skinner (Bond St), Charles de Temple, Royal Festival Hall
UK: London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Touring shows.
International: Los Angeles, New York, Stockholm, Paris, Mainz, Munich, Darmstadt
Several TV appearances.
Millennium exhibitions which included his work were: "Decadence" - Crafts Council
"Treasures of the 20th Century" - Goldsmiths' Hall
2003: 30/30 Vision, Crafts Council, London and UK Tour.
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
Modern Designer Jewellery from Goldsmiths Hall at Fairfax House, York.
Since 1997, he has participated in international sculpture symposia in:
Belgium, France, Greece, Italy and Poland
Publications featuring his sculptural jewellery include:
"Twentieth Century Jewellery" Caroline Pullee, apple press 1990"Twentieth Century British Jewellery 1900-1980" Peter Hinks, faber&faber 1983
"Jewellery Concepts and Technology" Oppi Untract, doubleday 1983
In addition to private collections the world over, his work is in the collections of:
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Goldsmiths' Hall, London
The Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh
The Arts Council of England
The Koch Rings collection, Switzerland
Weblinks: www.whoswhoingoldandsilver.com (Goldsmiths’Company)
www.photostore.org.uk (Crafts Council)