About…
Hamfast: Aged 2 (circa 1964)
For me, “Worlds in the making” describes the constant process of creation that goes on inside the mind of an artist. Every single day, every single minute, an entire universe grows, takes form, is destroyed and rebuilt inside each one of us, though often we are unaware of the process.
Philosophizing aside, this website contains my personal online gallery. It covers most of my work as an artist from the late seventies to the present day. Not a great hoard of work, (I have always been slothful and slow in production) but enough to show you my repertoire, and a small glimpse into the twisted imaginings of David Wiles , aka Hamfast…
One of the most common questions asked of me is how I obtained the nickname of “Hamfast”. Fans of the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien will instantly recognize the name as one of hobbits featured in his famous trilogy, “Lord of the Rings”, but the name was imparted to me by a fellow Tolkien reader, dear friend and e-mail correspondent, in recognition of my quiet, reclusive, home-loving nature.
I am a 60+ year old South African, married, with child, and was, until 26 years ago, a professional graphic designer and medical illustrator for some 9 years.
I am now the manager of a computer-based learning center for the medical school of a local university. Art is no longer my bread and butter, now reduced to a mere hobby and time-waster, but presently I enjoy it more than ever before – when I get the time! A lot of folk out there seem to enjoy my work and I have received a number of awards. No great fame and fortune, no undue attention, but I am content with that.
Enjoy my part of “worlds in the making”…