David Harding

David Harding (3 March 1937 – 21 February 2026) was a Scottish artist best known for his residency as a town artist in the new town of Glenrothes and as Head of Environmental Art at Glasgow School of Art.

Early life and education

Born in Leith on 3 March 1937 to ship's plumber Alfred Harding and his wife Kathleen (nee Murray), from 1955 to 1959 Harding attended Edinburgh College of Art, where he studied the sculptural use of glass, concrete and ceramics. He attended Moray House College of Education in 1960.

Having spent a year as a self-employed artist, Harding answered an advert in The Scotsman for a post with Glenrothes Development Corporation. From 1968 to 1978 he was town artist, working with the planning department to create site-specific work using the same concrete and brick as the newly developed housing. His works in Glenrothes include Henge, a spiral of cast concrete slabs; Industry, a mural on an underpass based on patterns on African huts; Heritage, rows of concrete embossed columns; Dark Cemetery in Pitteuchar; and ten poetry slabs at bus stops, phone boxes, and the Glenwood shopping centre. Henge and Industry are now listed. He retired in 2001. Grey Gardens, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, 2016.

Honours

Harding was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours for services to higher education, and in 2018 he was made an honorary D.Litt by the University of Glasgow.