David grew up on a dairy farm in South Carolina. He began art classes in middle school studying in Brenda Bower’s Art Studio, and participated in the summer program of the South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts. He attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Maryland Institute, College of Art where he was awarded the prestigious Morris Louis scholarship for painting.
After College David purchased Sheppard Art Gallery in Ellicott City, MD and founded Opal Galleries in Pendleton, SC.
Since 1999, David has focused on technology solutions and has founded and continues to run 2 software development companies. He is an avid amateur astronomer and continues to practice painting.
He and Alysen have a passion for emerging artists and developing relationships with the artists they support.