About David

David Marshall's paintings reflect a classical training in fine art and an aviator’s understanding of his subject. David started painting aircraft when he was five years old. His first contact with flying was in England during 1934 when he was taken for a flight in an Airspeed “Ferry” biplane owned by the famous English pioneer pilot, Sir Alan Cobham.

In the 1950s, during his National Service in the Royal Air Force in Britain he graduated as a pilot and continued flying with the RAF Reserve after taking up a major scholarship with the University of Reading in England. He specialized in painting, lithography, wood-engraving and typography; he graduated with first-class honours.

A thirty-year career in advertising in London and Sydney followed – most of that time in the position of a creative director. In his leisure time he cruised his 11-metre sloop “Summer Bird” with his wife and painted marine subjects on commission. In 1987 he retired from advertising and co-authored a book to celebrate 100 years of powered flight. It was a twelve-year labour of love and featured over two hundred of his paintings; it became a best-seller. During this time he took up flying sailplanes and was awarded the FAI Gold Badge with one Diamond.

David passed away in 2016, but the range and extent of his work has placed him as a pre-eminent aviation artist. His paintings can be found in business organisations, in museums and in several private collections. Several of his naval aviation paintings form part of the permanent display in the Royal Navy and the Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm Museums, and the RAAF has awarded him Heritage Awards for his paintings. Enterprises such as Qantas and Lockheed Martin have commissioned his work and many of them have been created for magazine articles that he has written over the years.

For any enquiries, email us at dmavart@gmail.com.