David Cox was born and reared in country Queensland. When he left school, he worked for five years as a jackaroo on outback sheep and cattle stations. At age twenty-one, he went to London and enrolled at St Martin's School of Art. He stayed in Europe for eight years, spending time in France and Spain. Back in Australia, he worked as an artist in the newspaper industry, while illustrating children's books with texts by other writers as well as his own picture books. In 2007 he was awarded the Dame Isabelle Rankin Award for distinguished services to Children's Literature in Queensland.
David has been a full time freelance writer/illustrator for the last twenty-four years, working from his home studio in Brisbane. One of his hobbies is singing. He is coached by his wife, pianist/composer, Betty Beath, Betty and David have written music theatre pieces about St Francis of Assisi and David regularly acts as cantor at St Phillips Church, which is attached to a Franciscan friary.
Published: February 2019
The powerful story of a family who lose their home in a bushfire and their journey of recovery.
Published: January 2015
Completing the trilogy that began with The Road to Goonong and continued with The Fair Dinkum War, David Cox explores his relationship with his father and his life as a stockman on a sheep station. His warm observations in words and pictures reveal a resilient quintessential Australian spirit.
Published: February 2013
Artist David Cox recalls what it was like to be a child during World War Two, and his warm observations reveal a resilient quintessential Australian spirit. A companion to his much loved picture book The Road to Goonong.
Published: August 2011
This glorious story of a bush childhood - growing up on the family farm with horses and animals, eccentric neighbours and a loving family - captures the enduring spirit of Australian country people.