David Cox is one of Australia's most prolific book illustrators. He has been described as 'a master of body language'. Spontaneity and wit characterise his style of illustration.
He was born and brought up in outback Queensland. When he left school, he followed family tradition and went to work on sheep and cattle stations. He enjoyed that a lot—he particularly liked riding and schooling horses.
When he was 21, David decided to go to England to study art (he had been drawing all his life). Without much idea of what field of art he would follow, he enrolled at St Martins School of Art. While in his first year at the school, he was offered his first book illustration commission, which he completed under the art direction of Australian illustrator Sheila Hawkins.
David stayed in Europe for eight years. Most of the time he was in London, but he also spent some time in France. When he came home to Australia, he went to work as an artist in the newspaper industry. He also wrote articles, book reviews and art reviews. In 1978, he was awarded the Walkeley Award for newspaper illustration.
David's writing and drawing for children began in the 1960s, with a series of three books, published in the UK, about two children and their pony. He went on to write and illustrate several more books, some of which have won awards and citations in Australia and in the USA. He has illustrated many books written by other people.
With his wife, composer and pianist Betty Beath, he has written words for songs and song cycles and libretti for several operas for children, which have been performed in Australia, the USA and the UK. Together they are the Australian Representatives for the American association, Opera for Youth.
David now works as a full-time illustrator and writer from his home studio at Highgate Hill, an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, and hopes to do so for a long time to come.
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