A keen sailor, David Willis is best known for his handling of marine subjects and his ability to capture the many moods of the sea and the varied scenery of the South Coast of England.He exhibits regularly at the Royal Society of Marine Artists and has his own gallery at St Ives and studio in Somerset where he now lives. His artistic career began at the Bournemouth College of Art which he attended after his honours degree in History at Emmanuelle College, Cambridge. After two years full time school teaching, he returned to Bournemouth in 1963 as a part time lecturer and began his career as a professional painter.He moved to Cornwall in 1978, gave up teaching and opened St Ives Gallery in 1982 to enable him to devote his time to painting.