My name is David Williams and I was born in Bilston, Staffordshire in 1947.

I attended Wolverhampton College of Art, 1964-1966, before moving on to Leeds College of Art, 1966-1969, where I was awarded a BA Honours degree.

My post-graduate years were spent as a designer of fairground rides, cartons and packaging designer plus two years' experience as a theatre technician at the Birmingham Rep and Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Between 1971 and 1976, I was a senior technician at West Surrey College of Art and part-time 3D Lecturer at Portsmouth College of Art. 

During that time, I also showed sculpture and drawings related to personal research into primal symbolism, archaic geometric and proportionate systems as well as geodesic structures for display purposes at the following venues:

- ACME Gallery, London
- Paris International Design Biennale
- Portsmouth City Art Gallery
- Sunday Times: Art Into Landscape Exhibition. 

Between1976 and 1981, I carried out research into Roman and Mediaeval Signalling Systems with reference to the history of the landscape, supported by Northern Arts and resulting in several radio and television broadcasts, including Channel 4 ‘On the Edge’ and BBC film for Newcastle Festival. 

Further research into ancient technology led to film and special effects work, specialising in ancient siege weaponry whicih culminated in a full-size replica of  a Roman Onager (siege engine) which is now on permanent display in the grounds of Tullie House Museum in Carlisle. 

I acted as consultant to Scottish Natural Heritage for the construction of full-size siege engines at Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire.

During this time, I also held one-man shows of sculpture and drawing at:

- The Tullie House Museum, Carlisle
- The LYC, Brampton, Cumbria
- Northern Arts Gallery in Newcastle
- Maritime Museum, Maryport, Cumbria
- Group Show at Appleby, Westmorland (Artists in Eden Group).

Between 1981 and 1996, I was a full-time lecturer at Cleveland College of Art as course tutor in 3D Design between 1981 and 1983; as Course Leader, General Art and Design between 1983 and 1986; as Joint Course Leader, Foundation between 1986 and 1990; as Course Leader, part-time Fine Art Degree (Sunderland University Franchise) between 1990 and 1993 and as Course Leader, Full-time Fine Art Degree Sculpture and 3D Department between 1993 and 1996.

In 1994, I was seconded to the Fine Art Academy in Tilburg, Holland, working on a Specialist Innovation Programme for Post-graduates (Drawing and Making). At this time. in My work was represented in Cleveland Open Exhibition in 1986, 1991 and 1993 (Reliefs and Drawing) and commissions included special effects work for BBC/ITV, consultancy work for National Trust and Spanish Department of the Environment.

From 1996 onwards, I have been a part-time tutor in Props and Special Effects, Theatre/Entertainment Degree, at the Cleveland College of Art and a part-time lecturer at the University of Teesside (Specialist Post Graduate Tutor in Drawing and Creative Animation).

The development of personal research and output has resulted in one-man shows at:

- Saltburn  Artists’ Gallery (Sculpture and Relief)
- Gardner Arts Centre, University of Sussex (Automata and Spatial 3D Drawing)
- Q Arts Centre, Derby, ‘Machines That Make Art’.
- Animex International Festival (Automata and Spatial Drawing)
- Group show of Automata at Voltaire Gallery, Clapham, London
- Commission work for Woodlands Trust, Saltburn (Steel Gateway Feature)
- Teesside Development Corporation (Urban Steelwork)
- Persimmon Developments, Middlesbrough Development Company (Urban Steelwork)
- Saltburn Improvement Company (Steel Armillary Timepiece)
- Rotary Club of Great Britain / Rotary International (Centenary Automata Clock for James Cook University Hospital).

I have also been a participant in the ‘Spring Fling’ Open Studios in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and my recent commissions include:

- Artrite (Chambers Institute), Peebles (Sand-drawing Engine)
- CREATE, Dumfries, Belmont School
- Stranraer (Automaton Clock)
- Craven Gallery, Skipton, February – April 2008
- Commission: Automata for permanent collection, Craven Museum, Skipton
- Gracefield Solo Exhibition, August 2008
- Community Involvement and Pyrotechnic Work for Darlington Borough Council, Stockton Borough Council, Skinningrove Bonfire Committee, Woodlands Trust, Saltburn (Pageant of Light), Circus 2000, Stockton Festival, Pier Pressure Group, Saltburn (Sand and Fire Sculpture).