We are scenic art specialists. Our aim is to provide a service that is of the highest quality. At our initial meeting we will discuss exactly what you require, establish what you want us to achieve visually, and work out any technical problems you might need us to solve.

Communication is an essential part of the service that we offer. We start each project by discussing how we might proceed, then we produce a series of samples of what the finished work will look like.

During each stage of the work we send you links to an online web gallery for your project. Each project has it's own gallery and they are not part of the public website, The gallery is updated each day so that you can see each step as it happens. This process helps us achieve exactly what you want.

Our attention to detail and pursuit of excellence have paid dividends. Here are one or two of the things that designers have said about our work.

I just wanted to say thanks again for all your beautiful work.  I hope it's not too long before we do another show

Robert Jones


I first worked with James in 2004 on a production of Twelfth Night I had designed for the West End. He did a beautiful job, and has been my painter of choice ever since. We have worked together on many projects since, from large painted cloths for the Globe, to breaking down rooms at the Almeida, and each time I have been impressed by his feel and understanding of what is needed for each project. I look forward to the next time.

Jonathan Fensom


“To paint an abstract image over 150 square metres worried me immensely, until I contacted James and he explained how he would do it. I knew immediately he knew what he was doing and had the experience to produce what I wanted. Throughout the process his up-loaded photo’s gave me a control that I valued greatly as I didn’t have time to get down to his studio. The result was on time, on budget and exactly what we imagined. A very good professional experience. Oh…., and I only gave him 10 days notice from first call to delivery…..!”
 
Barney Withers
Director of Production
Event Concept


Quite a challenge to make the whole Coliseum stage look like a dried-out peat-bog while still allowing the surface to take massive wheeled trucks and a very physical production... but, James, I think you've achieved this really well, with a clever use of matt and gloss finishes with a minimum of actual texture. Thanks for your inventiveness and resourcefulness! Here's to another soon!

Charles Edwards



The cloths look sensational and everyone has been saying "what lovely painting". Many thanks to you and Alice for a really painstaking job.

Michael Taylor



James recently painted the West End set for Buddy for me and I couldn't be more pleased with the result. It was a mammoth task, completed to a very high standard in a ridiculously short period of time and at a competitive price. Everyone who works on Buddy has been impressed with the final effect and James's painting greatly adds to the show! I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Adrian Rees


A small job (for the pub theatre 503) but superbly achieved! The clever mark up of the elements was much appreciated when we installed them. Hope to work with you again on something bigger! Thanks James.

Hayden Griffin


James has just completed his fourth job for me which tells you that I trust him to interpret the model, and to get fantastic results. He has painted cloths for me for the Cbeebies Live show and recently Milkshake! for Channel 5. I find the work to be of a very high standard and the progress reports via email invaluable.

Ben Dickens

We paint backcloths on a full range of scenic materials from floorcloths to silks, gauze to plastic.

We can create any scenic finish you require, turning plywood MDF steel and fibreglass into just about anything under the sun.

We enjoy a challenge. Whether it's painting a stage floor that has to cope with being submerged for an hour a day, or a touring forest floorcloth covered with texture up to an inch thick, we will make it work visually and practically, on time and within budget.

The studio is approximately 5000 square feet, large enough to lay out a show floor for the London Coliseum in one, and certainly large enough for most scenic projects. It's a well equipped space, with good access and parking.

The studio is situated just outside the village of Marden in Kent. Trains to central London take less than an hour. We are happy to provide transport to and from the station.

DAP Studio is run by James Rowse. James Has been painting scenery for twenty years and has worked in most sections of the entertainment industry. He has painted for film, television exhibition and events but most of his work has always been for the stage. James set up DAP Studio in 2004. He works with a small team of regular freelance artists.