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We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of The Big Draw Patron, David Hockney, one of the most influential and iconic artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, and a renowned advocate for drawing. Celebrated around the world for his paintings, prints, photography and digital innovations, drawing remained at the heart of everything he did. It was the foundation of a remarkable career that spanned more than six decades and challenged us all to look just that little bit closer.
Born in Bradford in 1937, Hockney began drawing as a child and never stopped. As his sister, Margaret, commented: “He was never without a pencil or a pen. Drawing was his way of seeing the world, and he did it with such ease.” He carried that curiosity with him throughout his life, embracing new ways of seeing and moving effortlessly between pencil, pen, etching plate, camera and iPad, pushing the boundaries of what drawing could be while remaining devoted to the simple act of making marks. For Hockney, drawing was both a way of thinking, and a way to refine his technique and explore his own identity and relationships, capturing his feelings and subjects with incredible sensitivity.
“When he is not smoking, he is drawing; he smokes to think about drawing in the pauses between mark-making.”
Art historian Sarah Howgate
Perhaps what made Hockney so widely loved was his ability to find joy in the everyday, whether in bold pops of colour, familiar faces, or the company of his beloved dachshunds. His infectious optimism and zest for life showed how much more there is to discover when we truly look.
Hockney rose to prominence in the 1960s as a leading figure of British Pop Art, yet he never allowed himself to be confined by movements or expectations. He drew inspiration from countless sources, fusing those influences into something deceptively simple, approachable and entirely his own. He reinvented portraiture, challenged traditional ideas of perspective, embraced photography and digital technologies long before many of his contemporaries, and continued experimenting with colour, light and composition throughout his career. His ability to evolve while remaining unmistakably himself made him one of the defining artists of his generation.
He believed creativity belonged to everyone, saying “If you can draw, even a little bit, you can express all kinds of ideas that might otherwise be lost”. He was passionate about drawing as something universal, emphasising the joy of the process itself rather than just the end result - something that deeply resonates with the work we do here at The Big Draw.
Draw! was one of Bradford 2025's flagship community and nationwide arts projects, supported by Hockney. Each month in 2025, a different artist invited everyone to create a drawing inspired by a particular theme or prompt. David Hockney started off the year with his chosen theme ‘draw something you find beautiful’.
The Big Draw was delighted to host the launch of its 25th anniversary Festival in partnership with Bradford 2025. As part of this, we collaborated on September’s Draw! prompt with Faiza Butt, encouraging everyone to respond to the theme “Drawn Together”, celebrating community, collaboration and connection. It was a wonderful reminder of how drawing brings us closer together.
Hockney leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and a body of work that completely changed the contemporary art landscape, inspiring generations to pay closer attention to the beauty of everyday life. His enduring belief in the power of drawing to help us slow down, look closely and connect more deeply with the world around us is something we will continue to champion here at The Big Draw. Hockney famously said that he preferred “living in colour”, and by approaching the world with curiosity and optimism, he showed us that paying attention is one of the greatest creative acts of all.
