Da Nova

Raised by his grandparents, his grandmother was the defining influence of his life—her death when he was 8 years old left an indelible mark on his soul and his art. At age 10 he wrote his first poem. By 12, he had won a national poetry competition; his poem was published nationally in a newspaper and featured in an anthology alongside other winners.

After losing the most important person in his life at age 11, misunderstood and feeling profoundly alone, he ran away from home. He failed 5th grade and was forced to repeat the year. From that point forward, his academic average never dropped below 4.85. He finished primary school with honours as the second-best student, competing in regional and national knowledge championships in Chemistry, Polish Language, History, and Mathematics, placing in the top 10 nationally—an achievement that earned him free entry to any college of his choice.

He chose a 4-year Economics College. In his first year, he submitted a 4-page ABAB rhyme poem on the subject of Bible and Mythology for a Polish Language class. His professor, Anna Nowak, refused to grade it, stating it completely exceeded the college curriculum. He graduated with a 4.79 average and honours, won an English language competition at the regional level in his senior year, then studied at a private IT university, and later earned a Bachelor's degree from Adam Mickiewicz Economics University.

He started drawing at age 10, mostly comic book illustrations, never believing his work was good enough compared to others. His first painting was a commission in 2008, stemming from a portrait drawing he had made for a friend. Since then, he has taken part in several exhibitions in the UK and Ireland.

Using art as a medium to help others, David has donated numerous paintings to various charities.

His most notable contribution was in 2015 when his paintings and ceramics were auctioned on national Polish television at the ‘Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy’ (The Great Orchestra of Holiday Charity) — the biggest national Polish charity event supporting children's medical foundations.

After Poland joined the EU, David moved to Northern Ireland in 2006. The UK government refused to recognise him as a professional artist. This systemic rejection effectively suppressed his creative side, forcing him to navigate the harsh realities of immigrant life and open various businesses over time to survive.

He lived in Dublin in 2006 for a year, working at Aspect International language school. For the last 5 years, he has run The Tint and Wrap Company. His journey reflects the broader tension faced by the Polish diaspora post-2004—caught between the pressing need for financial survival in a new country and the inescapable calling of creative expression.

Through it all, his art remains a testament to resilience, emotional depth, and the enduring human spirit.