David Clayton is an internationally known artist, teacher, writer and broadcaster. He is currently Provost of a Catholic university, Pontifex University. He created the unique Master of Sacred Arts program at Pontifex, teaching online courses that present a Catholic understanding of culture through subjects on the mathematics of beauty, art history, and traditions in sacred art.
After studying math, physics and metallurgy at Oxford University and Michigan Tech University, Clayton pursued his passion for art. He has trained as an iconographer in the Byzantine tradition. He also studied the academic method of naturalistic painting and drawing in Florence, Italy. He moved to the US from his native England in 2009 to be Artist-in-Residence at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in New Hampshire, where many of his works of art hang in the chapel. Clayton has had major commissions for the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham (UK); Pluscarden Monastery in Elgin, Scotland; and the London Oratory.
He has published a number of popular and academic articles on Catholic art and culture. He has been regular contributor on sacred art for the New Liturgical Movement website since 2009. In 2010, he established his own popular blog at The Way of Beauty. In addition to speaking to schools, seminaries and churches, he has lectured on culture, beauty and liturgy to organizations such as the Acton Institute, the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, the Society for Catholic Liturgy, the Catholic Medial Association, the Catholic Education Foundation, and the Institute for Catholic Culture.
His published books on art include The Way of Beauty: Liturgy, Education, and Inspiration for Family, School, and College and The Little Oratory: A Beginner’s Guide to Praying in the Home (featuring his sacred art). His book on spiritual formation, The Vision for You: How to Discover the Life You Were Made For includes a section on contemplative prayer with art. Clayton has also illustrated several books including God’s Covenant with You written by Scott Hahn.
He loves the band Genesis, chanting psalms, gardening, cooking, and playing old-time clawhammer banjo.