David is an Arts graduate and worked as a professional photographer throughout the UK. With his extensive background in photography, David has taught at tertiary level and lectured as a Visiting Professional.

Growing up in Edinburgh, David became fascinated by the rich history of Scotland's capital, and especially with some of its leading characters. As a "Gentleman by day, thief by night", Deacon William Brodie – the lead in David's first novel, Deacon Brodie: A Double Life – was one such character.

David began writing short pieces for magazines and was first published in the 1980s. At present he is writing All Flesh Is Grass (the sequel to his second novel, Lest You Be Judged) with Detective Chief Inspector Mike Steel in the lead. Currently, he lives in the American Mid-West.