David Angus: Planet Builder

Born in Cheam, Surrey, Feb 15th 1950. Moved to Burghfield near Reading 1962. Has been based near or in Reading ever since with the exception of 5 years in Africa during the 70's. About to move to Gosport, Hants. Education: Secondary Modern (I failed the 11 plus because I had chicken pox when I took it) then Grammar for 6th form. 3 strongest subjects were Geography, Art and English. Went on to Berkshire College of Art graduating from a design course in 1972.

Career: Specialised in relief models while in Africa which combined Geography and Art. Work included regional guide for Readers Digest. Returning to this country and the depression at the end of the 70's I got over it by working with the BBC on a documentary about the S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive) in World War 2. I not only love the formation of landscapes but science fiction too, "modelling" myself to some extent on the fiord designing Slartibartfast of 'Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy';- so my relief modelling extended into "planetbuilding" beginning in 1984 with Brian Aldisss Helliconia. Lower Cretaceous Earth followed in 1987. Other work included the Peters Atlas in the late 80's and the company involved - Oxford Cartographers - became my main client. Later projects with them included BBC weather maps (1990) and a 42 dia. globe model of present day Earth completed in 1993. Images taken of this were marketed with Tony Stone Photo Library. Another smaller model of present day Earth was completed for Science Photo Library in 1991. In 1993 Mars was modelled. 1995 saw construction of Epona;- a world designed along scientific principles by a worldbuilding group, most members of which were in the U.S.A. I was interviewed with the model for the Discovery Channel in California in 1997. The Mars model in this exhibition was filmed in Ealing Studios for a Discovery Channel documentary on Mars in 1998. Terraformed Mars also modelled in 1998.

Artists exhibiting

Alligator Descartes, Anne Sudworth, Brian Waugh, Chris Moore, David A Hardy, David Angus, David Vickers, Dominic E Harman, Fred Gambino, Jim Burns, Keith Scaife, Lisa Konrad, Planet Fresh, SMS, Steve Stone, Sue Mason, Les Edwards.

Exhibition details: Dates: 14th July 2000 to 11th August 2000 Opening hours: 10:30 to 17:30. (closed Sundays) Admission: Free

2nd Floor Art Gallery Foyles Bookshop
113-119 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0EB
United Kingdom