Parker County Today January 2016 | Page 69

English people — you’re far more friendly in America, particularly in Texas. I just prefer the American way of life and America to England.” Asked if he feels more free in America, he said that’s really not it. “It’s the way of life here. In England the average boy growing up will go to the pub when he leaves school and get into this drinking habit — everything revolves around the pub, you know. The lifestyle is totally different from here. It revolves around football and smoking and pubs, things like that. Whereas in America, the lifestyle is openair and sports, going out into the wild terrain and seeing what’s out there, an appreciation of such things as fossils, rocks, trees — everything that’s good in life, you know. Here it’s more adventurous. It’s the adventure I like.” (David acknowledged that people around the world foster a Wild West, cowboy and Indian mystique about Texas. As a kid he and his mates played cowboys and Indians.) The man from Liverpool — and, yes, he gets asked about the Beatles — launched his art career in ecclesiastical stained glass. He had his first one-man exhibition at 17. He attended art college in Liverpool and learned mediums and techniques. He enjoyed art college right up till the curriculum switched to abstract art. Realistic wildlife painting has been his forte for many years now. “I’ve always been interested in animals my whole JANUARY 2016 PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY “Opportunist, Bobcat” 12” x  12” Acrlic/canvas 67