I was born and raised in the Hillsborough district of Sheffield. Two weeks after leaving school at the age of fifteen, in 1959, I was guided into an engineering apprenticeship by my parents and headmaster and away from pursuing a possible career in art, despite having passed an entrance exam to join the local college of art. It no doubt seemed, and probably was, a good idea at the time. 
While studying engineering at evening classes I also passed an A level art exam; to date my only academic art qualification. My interest in art and painting continued during my spare time alongside the 'real job' in engineering. 

During a four year period of living and working in engineering in Canada, starting in 1968, I pursued my interest in art and increased my drawing and sketching abilities at evening life drawing classes. I returned to the UK and Sheffield in 1972 to continue working in engineering, until the opportunity to join a small marketing services team in the same company allowed me to use what artistic abilities I had, in pursuing a career in graphic design. 
I furthered my career in this sector by becoming Marketing Services Manager for a wholesale and retail company in Sheffield. Art is the basis of graphic design, but, as I think others in the business may agree, it is art produced seemingly at 90 if not 100 miles per hour and on demand. Self motivation following this experience has so far never been a problem. The variety of 'art work' included everything from flimsy point of sale through to advertising campaigns, window display design and design and construction of large wholesale exhibitions. Oh! ... and company floats for Lord Mayor's Parades. 

To say I am a totally self taught artist would be doing a disservice to all those professional artists, art tutors and dedicated amateur artists that I have met in various art groups and classes who have taught me painting skills and generously passed on to me their knowledge and information about art. Their inspiration has helped me to pursue my earlier ambition: to make a living from painting pictures, and to these people I am extremely grateful.
 

Dave Jeffery
 

1959 to 1964
Engineering apprenticeship
achieving various dubious engineering qualifications
and B grade A level in art.

1996 to 1972
Four years work experience in Toronto Canada

1973 to 1985
Assistant to Marketing Services Manager 
Osborn Mushet Tools, Sheffield
Responsibilities included design and production of point of sale, publications, advertising and exhibitions in the UK and abroad. 

1985 to 1996
Marketing Services Manager 
H Turner & Son Ltd, Sheffield 
Responsible for design and production of point of sale, publications, advertising, exhibitions, retail window display and display training to four major divisions of the parent company.

1996 to 1998
Self Employed 
in marketing services/graphic design and as a professional artist. 

1998 to present
Self Employed as professional artist and manager of own art gallery 
(Forge Gallery Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire) 

Paintings created by Dave Jeffery have been exhibited and sold in various open art exhibitions and municipal and private galleries in the following locations:

Sheffield, South yorkshire
Grindleford, Derbyshire 
Wetherby, West yorkshire 
Knaresborough, West Yorkshire
Scarborough, North yorkshire
Whitby, North yorkshire
Robin Hood's Bay, North yorkshire