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

David Edgar Strachan
Born(1919-06-25)25 June 1919
Salisbury, England
Died23 November 1970(1970-11-23) (aged 51)
NationalityAustralian
Known forartist (painter), printmaker, teacher
Notable worketchings, lithographs

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]

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b c d "ONE-MAN ART SHOW AT BIBLE HOUSE". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 18 June 1963. p. 14. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Strachan's art". Canberra Times. ACT. 16 October 1969. p. 22. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Barry Pearce, 'Strachan, David Edgar (1919–1970)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published in hardcopy 2002, accessed online 29 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Contemporary Art Group". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 October 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  5. ^ McGregor, Ken (2005). Teeming with Life: John Olsen: His Complete Graphics, 1957–2005. Macmillan Education. p. 12. ISBN 9781876832230.
  6. ^ "STRACHAN, David – Exhibition History". Centre for Australian Art. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  7. ^ "David Strachan". Design & Art Australia Online. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Deaths". Canberra Times. ACT. 25 November 1970. p. 31. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  9. ^ "STRACHAN, David – Galleries". Centre for Australian Art. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
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