David was born is Zambia and came to Australia in 1981. He studied for a Post Graduate degree at the Royal Academy Schools in London and is currently a visiting lecturer at the National Art School, Drawing Department.

He was awarded the Dobell Prize for Drawing in 1999, the Doug Moran Portrait Prize in 2002 and most recently the Mosman Art Prize in 2012. David was first selected for the Archibald in 1984 and subsequently has been included in a further eight Archibalds, the latest in 2012.

David is represented in many public including the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. He is also represented in Regional galleries and in many private collections.