David was shortlisted for the prestigious John Player (now the BP) Portrait Award in 1989 and in 1997 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

He has painted people from all walks of life, including actors, writers, sportsmen, businessmen, academics, journalists, senior military personnel, churchmen and politicians. He prefers to work directly from life where possible, and as a rule a portrait generally requires around six two-hour sittings.