David was born in Belfast in 1957. Married with two daughters he still lives and works in his native city.
Alothough receiving no formal artistic training in his youth, David took an early interest in the work of many 20th Century Irish and European artists.  van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Yeats, Paul Henry and the enigmatic Markey Robinson all had a profound effect on him.
Describing himself as an Irish Colourist, subject and composition in David's paintings play an essentially secondary role to their mood, atmosphere, texture and above all, their colour 'colour within colour' all built on the gold leaf underlay which helps to give his paintings such vibrant appeal.
Since his first show in 1993, Hughes has exhibited not only in many of the most important galleries in Ireland but also in leading galleries in London and the USA.