Born in London, Dani attended a Rudolph Steiner school before studying fashion in Brighton. After which she returned to her original love of painting and drawing, freelancing for years as an artist before setting up a publishing company where she worked as the principal artist and designer. After many years in business, she left publishing and turned to painting full time.
Dani was Vice-President of the Society of Women Artists for five years., becoming Director when she stepped down.
The winner for several awards for paintings, she is regularly invited to exhibit at the Florence Biennale and has been selected to show at the RA Summer Exhibition. She continues to show regularly in the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA.
Using principally the imagery of fruit in much of her work, her interest is largely in its metaphorical and symbolic use in the visual arts as well as strong links to language, examples include the Bible, myth and fairy tale, branding, popular culture, language, literature and as symbols of power, passion and fertility.
The use of traditional painting techniques, strong light and shade or chiaroscuro creates a sense of drama. There is a surreal quality and humor in much of her work but importantly there is also a respectful nod to the painters of the Renaissance and many influences from the Dutch Golden Age of the principally 17th century.
She says: “As a painter I can tear the visual curtain to reveal a microscopic world within worlds, layered memory and the inclusion of personal objects, the work almost becomes portraiture.” Also: “Within my work I aspire to fuse the still-life tradition and Vanitas painting within a contemporary context, using both familiar objects and ideas.”
"I see a skilled artist communing with slow time, spaces outside the hubbub, fashioning spaces for others to delve into these deeper wells in our world gone wild, so the deep content of your work is present." Jerry Saltz (Art Critic, New York Maazine)
"Dani's work are rich tapestries woven with symbolism and imagery, serving as stages upon which the human experience unfolds." Mollie Barns (She Curates)
"By combining the technical skill of Old Masters painters with a modern sensibility, Dani Humberstone creates striking and thought-provoking artworks that blur the lines between traditional and contemporary art. Her ability to capture the essence of her subjects in a hyper realistic style is truly impressive and has earned her a space in the international art collections." Deborah Allen (Wychwood Art, ex Director of Modern Art, Christies)
