Born in Cape Verde in 1945, David Levy Lima has been in São Pedro do Estoril for over 50 years. He came to Portugal in the 60s, with the intention of continuing his studies, but ended up becoming self-taught: to pay the bills, he had to paint and paint, selling his paintings to gallery owners. Initially, he mainly portrayed historical moments, with heightened drama and a heavy atmosphere, drawn along realistic lines. Over the years, and after gaining the freedom to paint what he really wanted, he began to paint more broadly and colorfully, with images that reveal tranquility. The turning point came in 1992, when he suffered a stroke and, realizing the fragility of life, began to paint what he really wanted.
He likes to portray references to his country, from natural landscapes to batukadeiras, but also paintings of Cascais, Lisbon or Sintra, among some odes to the female body. In São Pedro do Estoril, next to Marginal, it is possible to visit his studio, see and purchase his paintings, spread across the small space but also on the sidewalk in front. With a full CV, David Levy Lima has already won multiple awards and participated in international exhibitions. And he continues to do many commissioned paintings. Art runs in this family's blood and David Levy Lima has two brothers who are also painters. Furthermore, he is the uncle of Luís Levy Lima, another heir to the family gift, who once painted paintings for Madonna.