Born in Victoria in 1924, David Boyd is the son of William Merric Boyd. Following army service, he studied at Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music and at the National Gallery School. His first distinction was as a potter, briefly with the Martin Boyd pottery, and later with his wife, Hermia. The pair held their first exhibition in Sydney in 1948. His first serious painting commenced with the Explorer series in 1957. Since then he has held over 40 major exhibitions throughout Australia and in London and France. David Boyd's paintings are widely represented in public and private collections in Australia, America and England.