David Peacock began painting large canvases in acrylic in the 1990s in the NHS Art Therapy unit when he lived in Gogarburn Hospital. His style was mainly horizontal stripes in colour until he became a student at Leith School of Art from 2016 – 2025. He began to diversify both in style and materials in response to more formal art teaching with experienced tutors. He also thrived being part of a group with other artists. He had enormous discipline in his work, never missing classes and working from start to finish with serious application.

He lived 17 happy and creative years as a member of the supportive L’Arche community in Leith until his death. He regularly took part in many of the art activities.

He was a non-verbal autistic man with learning disabilities. He never spoke and communicated non-verbally, including though his art.

In this memorial exhibition of David’s work, see over 40 of his many paintings in a celebration of his art. There is also a video box with film and stills showing his life as a painter.

His work is in private collections in the UK, NHS and L’Arche locations.

His first publicly exhibited work was at the Talbot Rice Gallery in 1996. He has exhibited in numerous joint exhibitions since then and had 3 solo exhibitions, including this memorial exhibition ‘Colour in Silence’.