David Edgar Strachan

David Edgar Strachan (25 June 1919 – 23 November 1970) was an Australian painter, printmaker and teacher.

Strachan was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, in 1919 to a doctor in the Australian Army.[1] In 1920 David and his family moved to Adelaide, later moving to Creswick, Victoria. He was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Victoria.[1]

He moved to London in 1936 to study at the Slade School of Fine Art under Randolph Schwabe for two years.[2] In 1937 he attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, Paris and worked as a printmaker. He returned to Australia in April 1938 and worked with George Bell in Melbourne for a few years.[2][3]

Strachan moved to Sydney in 1941, and exhibited with many other prominent artists of the Contemporary Art Group.[4] He again left for Europe in 1948 where he began experimenting in etching in Paris.[3]

In May 1960 Strachan returned to Sydney, continuing to exhibit. He was a member of Sydney Printmakers, and taught etching at East Sydney Technical College (1960–1965).[3][5] He was the last president of the Society of Artists, serving in 1965.[3]

Strachan held solo and group shows in London and Paris and appeared in the Paris UNESCO Exposition.[1] He exhibited his prints in numerous Australian galleries between 1961 and 1978.[6]

He won the Wynne Prize in 1961 and 1964.[2][7]

Strachan died on 23 November 1970 from a motorcar accident near Yass, New South Wales.[8]

His works are held in 15 major galleries in Australia[9] and in many European and American galleries.[1]