David studied at the Bourneville School of Arts and Crafts, Birmingham, where he was introduced to etching, and at the Ravensbourne College of Art and Design, with postgraduate studies at Manchester Polytechnic. In 1974 he settled in Blackheath, south-east London, making drawings, paintings in oils and watercolour, as well as relief prints, etchings and silkscreen prints. Since 1985 he has been a member of the Greenwich Printmakers Association, a well-established co-operative running a permanent gallery with a vigorous programme of shows.