David Edgar Strachan

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
Died	23 November 1970(1970-11-23) (aged 51) Yass, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Known for	artist (painter), printmaker, teacher
Notable work	etchings, 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]