After graduating from the University of Durham with a 2:1 honours degree in archaeology during July 2007, David was employed by North Pennines Archaeology to work on the Hilton Mine site in Scordale, Cumbria. Since then, he has enjoyed continued employment with the company working around the Nenthead Heritage Site maintaining the historic buildings and features, and also on several archaeological projects including the important Delft Ware factory in Lancaster.

David has a keen interest in the early Palaeolithic, especially the relationship between cognitive and technological development and occasionally undertakes flintknapping to better understand stone-tool manufacture.