David was 11 when his life in fine arts began at Circle Studio in Stockport, UK. His developing skills were later valued in commercial art and he worked in Manchester for a short time before he and two friends decided to venture to Australia as ‘Ten Quid Poms’.
They landed in Sydney in the late ‘60s and purchased an ex Snowy River project Landrover and headed for the bush. They travelled through much of the country, eventually arriving in Melbourne where David presented his portfolio to a company, Art Associates, who offered him work immediately.
A couple of years later a wave of homesickness took him back to the UK – only to find that he missed the Australian bush even more and back he came. David continued working in advertising agencies in Melbourne where, in the early ’70s, he met his wife. By 1976 he had established his own graphic design practice and embarked on illustrating the successful children’s book series of Practical Puffins. In the ‘80s, now with two children, he bought in Allenvale (before it became a berry farm) for the family to enjoy beach holidays. “I remember renting surf boards from Sharkey and buying snacks from Beach Bites.” Later, they sold the Allenvale land and built on five acres near Erskine Falls where, for the next eighteen years, they spent their holidays, cementing a lifelong attachment to the ocean. For a time the family left Lorne and their three school-age children spent weekends on the Mornington Peninsula closer to Melbourne. But, they still had many connections to the Surf Coast – connections reinforced when their son moved permanently with his family to Aireys Inlet.
David is a world recognised graphic designer whose excellence is reflected in his membership of Alliance Graphique Internationale. His long list of achievements includes designs for postage stamps, a Sydney Olympic poster and world-class museum and exhibition spaces. He has worked alongside architects in developing Indigenous visitor centres in remote parts of Australia. This work is of particular significance to him. Through working with Indigenous people in various parts of the country, he has developed a deep respect for their culture and their connection to country. He and his wife have an ongoing deep commitment to Indigenous culture.
As much of his work took place in national parks, zoos and botanic gardens, his interests also include biodiversity and sustainability. Early last year, David and his wife bought a house on an acre at Birregurra and moved there permanently. David has created a studio where he is continuing to pursue his lifelong passion for painting. He has already exhibited widely and has work in collections around the world. He remains passionate about exploring remote places, connecting with country wherever he is, collecting ideas and material to work with back in the studio. He’s off to Esperance next.
How fortunate is Lorne that he is now a member of the Lorne Sculpture Committee.
