David’s obsession with photography developed in his early teens whilst training as a boxer in Glasgow. He became hypnotized by the black and white posters and photographs on the walls of the boxing clubs where he trained and sparred. At the age of 16, when he got fed up of being punched in the head but still loved the atmosphere and characters involved in the boxing world, he returned to the clubs with a camera and started to document what he saw.
In the late 1990’s, David won a couple of local photographic competitions with his black and white documentary street scenes of Glasgow life. On the back of this success he began to secure regular commissions from several of Scotland’s leading broadsheet newspapers and magazines. Through regular photographic commissions, David further developed as a photographer and was able to quit his full time employment in 1999 and realise his dream in becoming a photographer.

ACHIEVEMENTS

2007 April – WINNER – Photo Essay of the Year
David’s long term project on violence in Glasgow picked up this year’s award of Photo Essay of the Year at the Scottish Press Photographers Awards.

http://www.scottishppa.com/2006-winners/2006-winners’-gallery.aspx

2007 January – Arts Foundation Fellowship
David was shortlisted for the award in this year’s category of photojournalism.

http://www.artsfoundation.co.uk/current_awards.html

2006 September – BBC Documentary Film , “BLACK & WHITE” on David’s work.
This 30 minute documentary film, which was commissioned by the BBC for their Artworks series, was produced by Hopscotch films and Directed by award winning director Zam Salim. The film which was shortlisted for Best Arts Documentary at the Celtic Film & TV Festival 2007, and picked up a Highly Commended in the Human Rights Category at the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Awards in the same year, won Best Documentary at the DOXA Film Festival in Vancouver, 2007. The film provides an insight into David’s work on violence in Glasgow and street kids in Ukraine whilst giving a brief overview of his passion for photojournalism. For further detaild please contact Hopscotch Films at: info@hopscotchfilms.co.uk

2006 – Selected to participate in this years Joop Swart World Press Photo Masterclass.
http://www.worldpressphoto.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=733&Itemid=50&bandwidth=high

2006 – WINNER One Vision UK National Prize, Professional Category.
http://www.onevision2006.org/winners_picture.php?id=58#pict

2006 – POYI – Judges Special Recognition in World Understanding Award.

David’s work on Street Children in Ukraine received a Judges Special Recognition at the Pictures of the Year International Awards.
http://www.poyi.org/63/wua/index.php

2005 – WINNER – UNICEF Photo of the year
http://www.unicef.de/foto/2005/english/index_2005_engl.htm

PERSONAL DETAILS

David married his wife, Kirsty, in 1999 and has since had two sons, Cameron Jack (aged 5) and Brodie Mac (aged 3 months). They currently live in Glasgow.

EXHIBITIONS

2007 April “The Chewa of Malawi” GALLERY FCB, New York

http://www.galleryfcb.com/past/david/index.html

2006 Dec “BESPRIZORNIKI” Melkweg Gallery, Amsterdam. Retrospective of work in the Former Soviet Union surrounding HIV.

2006 Nov “RISK” Foam Gallery, Amsterdam as part of Joop Swart World Press Photo Masterclass

2006 “THE CHEWA of MALAWI” in Offshore Basement Gallery, Glasgow.

2006 “BESPRIZORNIKI” (The neglected ones) as part of Code Red at FotoFreo, Perth, Australia.

2005 “BESPRIZORNIKI” (The neglected ones) at the DGP Gallery, Glasgow.

Exhibition of work on street kids in the former Soviet Union.