 | | Metta by Dan Tejo |
Daniel Smith’s diverse paintings reflect his varied life. He grew up in Coventry, enjoying a reasonably normal life, until he decided to have a ‘gap’ year before university. That year became many years and Daniel Smith became Daniel Tejo. The monastery years Dan’s gap year was like many others (travelling around Australia, Indonesia etc) except on his he made the decision to become a Buddhist monk.
 | | Purple Haze by Dan Tejo |
He returned to England and ordained as a monk early in 1999 and for a number of years he lived at a monastery near Warwick before joining a forest monastery in North-East Thailand. After five years of living in a wooden hut, largely in solitude, loneliness and the urge to paint pushed Dan to return to ‘normal life’. Exhibition for fund death row trip
 | | Silence by Dan Tejo |
On his return from Thailand, Dan started painting and drawing portraits of friends and family. With this encouragement Dan exhibited a selection of his work in Coventry. The exhibition helped him raise enough money to visit Burley Gilliam, being held on death row in Florida. The two had become friends after writing to each other during Dan's time as a Buddhist monk. Dan was the first visitor to see Burley for 18 years. Galleries and charities Since then Dan's painting has come a long way and he now exhibits his work
in several galleries. Dan's passion about all humanity has led him to do a lot of work with charitable organisations, producing some work of his friends that until recently had lived on the streets. He also produces art work for display at Oxfam and donating art for sale. See the work
 | | Timeless by Dan Tejo |
Dan currently has an exhibition in Coventry at Friswells Gallery (Albany Rd, Earlsdon). Until 20 July you can see a selection of work and all sales will go to charitable organisations and towards Dan’s further studies as he prepares to take a fine Art degree in Falmouth, starting in September. Dan also has exhibitions at: • The Glass House, Coventry 14 - 20 August
• Pizza Express, Coventry dates to be confirmed
• Friswells, Coventry 21 September -5 October Other exhibitions are being planned in Leamington, Solihull, Bournemouth and Cornwall. | 
