David Gavril was born in New York City. He grew up in suburban New York, and started drawing at early age, creating his first comic books while in elementary school. Trading his drawing pen for a camera he studied photography and writing at Hampshire College, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1994.

After college he moved to Cambridge, MA. It was there that he began drawing again, making signs advertising the soup of the day at a local fish store. Inspired by folk artists such as Howard Finster, he soon was creating his own mini-comics and self-publishing them in the fertile 90’s Boston underground comic scene. Inspired by childhood favorites like William Steig he began to try his hand at children’s books.

Returning to New York City in 2001 he soon sold his first book, Hector and the Noisy Neighbor. It was followed by, Penelope Nuthatch and The Big Surprise, published in 2006. He then collaborated with renowned children’s author Jean Van Leeuwen on Chicken Soup, published in 2009.

He now lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Vanessa and their daughter, Juniper Rose, and son, River Leeuwen.

David is represented by HSG Agency.