David Harris. Born Acton, London 1935 into an Orthodox Jewish family, son of Arthur Harris (Tailor) and Gwen Cass. Younger brother of Thelma.
Father died 1948. His mother continued to support family by tailoring work, and he completed his State education in reluctant acceptance of her proscription of an artistic career.
Entered University College, London as a medical student in 1947 and qualified as a doctor. M.B, BS London, 1952. National military Service 1950 - 52 (R.A.M.C officer), including one year Northern Ireland. Trained in surgery. FRCS (Eng.) 1958.
Pursued career in practising and teaching Orthopaedic surgery including six months period in Heinola, Finland. Consultant in Orthopaedic Surgery Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and Shrewsbury Hospitals (1968 - 2000, and subsequently Honoraria to date, currently pursuing clinical research), founding Dept. Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Unit, 1972. Founder member British Microsurgical Society, member of Council, British Orthopaedic Association.
Married Patricia (Farren, General Medical Practitioner) 1952. Four children; Claire, Sophie, Kate and Toby. Moved to Shrewsbury in Shropshire 1965.
Self taught in plastic arts though long association with Robert Kitts and Alasdair Gray.
Influenced in painting and sculpture by early religious upbringing and the proscription against figurative art in Jewish and Islamic culture, and by the problems of the uses of Language in communication and social structure.
Lapsed rationalist, lapsed neo- Darwinian but remaining in sympathy with a utilitarian outlook, unable to attain lapse from spirituality.
Current interests in constructed work show difficulty in fully committing to three dimensions and tendency to equivocate in "two and a half" d.
The exploitation of humour in art and the processes of image association as means of avoiding the misuses to which artistic and other forms of language are subject.
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