David So

“Realism, for me, is a way to honour ordinary moments — to give everyday light, objects and spaces a quiet, lasting presence on canvas.”

David So was born in 1965 and began learning to draw and paint as a child. In 1989 he committed to oil painting as his main medium and has stayed with it ever since, building over three decades of experience as a calm, patient realist painter.

He is drawn to scenes most people walk past: a quiet corner of a room, light on a table, a simple street after the rain, a few objects left on a chair or shelf. For David, realism is not about showing off detail, but about giving these familiar moments warmth and presence so they sit naturally in everyday interiors.

Today, his works are collected all around the world by clients who value paintings that are honest, solid and easy to live with rather than flashy. Each canvas is carefully built in layers, with clear structure and gentle light, designed to feel at home in modern living rooms, dining rooms and studies.

He is best known for:

• Contemporary realist landscapes and city views with a calm, lived-in atmosphere
• Quiet interiors and everyday corners that blend seamlessly into modern homes
• Simple, modern still lifes painted with clean compositions and soft light
• Warm, understated realism that works effortlessly in living rooms, dining rooms and studies