The HIVEArts gallery above the HIVE coffee shop in Church Street continues to deliver a steady stream of top notch exhibitions. Currently Dave Naden’s excellent oils and acrylics occupy the first floor gallery, until 15th August 2026. Dave Simper bused down to join the weekly HIVE jive get together and took in Dave’s work, finding time for a brief chat about it.
I had viewed Dave’s work on several previous occasions and was well aware of its quality. Without being twee, these are paintings that people will actively look to have on their lounge walls. Walking into the gallery the colours of his acrylics and oils hit you, saturated but not grossly so. Dave has selected pieces to encompass his artistic interests.
“I like painting aircraft,” Dave tells me and warplanes are a clear interest, good for me as I am also an aircraft enthusiast. Several periods of British aviation are recorded. Most people would be aware of the Spitfire fighter and the Lancaster bomber, but how many know of the Hawker Sea Fury fighter, which shot down a Mig 15 jet during the Korean war?
Dave joined the airforce when he was 21, he explains, but art and creativity were never far from his mind.
“I did art was at school, it was the only subject I excelled in. My first job when I left school at 15 was silk screen printing for a company on Mowbray Drive. Then, as most teenagers do, I drifted into music. I carried on being a musician when I came out of the airforce. Then I retrained as a television camera man, which I did for 30-odd years. When I retired I got back into my art again.”
There’s humour in his work too, with Lowry-esque figures traversing Blackpool promenade. Some pieces have high drama, including a smaller piece, a sea-scape including a life boat. Demand for dog portraits is high and Dave has included an excellent example in this exhibition (above).
Dave tells me there is no strategy in selecting his subjects.
“If somebody says ‘I want that painting’ I’ll just do it.”
I notice the quality of eyes in several portraits, tricky to do (and easy to get cross-eyed). The highlights make these look luminous and they follow you round the room, as they should. Dave’s technique is always excellent, the paintings are well-planned and composed.
I was able to briefly discuss Dave’s work with him.
What has been your route into art?
I did art was at school, it was the only subject I excelled in. My first job when I left school at 15 was silk screen printing for a company on Mowbray Drive. Then, as most teenagers do, I drifted into music. I joined the air force when I was 21. I carried on being a musician when I came out. Then I retrained as a television camera man, which I did for 30-odd years. When I retired I got back into my art again.
