Dr David Robin Evans was born in Goulburn NSW in 1937 and died in Armidale in September 2007. He lectured in English at the University of New England for 32 years before taking early retirement so he could follow his interests in art.

One of David’s  former colleagues described him as a ‘teacher, scholar, mentor, poet and artist,’ who had ‘devoted his life to enriching the lives of others.’ Another former colleague described him as ‘a Renaissance man, with expertise and passion within and among an eclectic range of talents: an artist, teacher, scholar, researcher, linguist, athlete, tennis player, lover of the bush, raconteur… He also recalled how David’s lectures on Chaucer at the University of New England, were frequently punctuated with wicked humour about the various characters in the Canterbury tales.

As well as lecturing in English, David voluntarily helped students from Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Africa with their written English during their stays at the university. His friendship and help made an enormous difference to their Australian experience. Their friendship meant a great deal to him also. He visited Indonesia several times to renew friendships and to paint. People visiting the gallery in Uralla, can see how his interest in Asia influenced David’s art.

Flight from Dili - pencil drawing

Boy with prahu - ink drawing

David was an English language scholar. His special interest was in Old and Middle English and that is why he named the gallery after the great English writer Chaucer, who is known as the Father of English Literature. As well as a place for his art, David intended the gallery to be a museum for Old and Middle English poetry. He prepared a small Anthology of poetry of pieces from the sixth to the sixteeth centuries. One of these is the Lord's Prayer seen at the right.

                                                             copyright 2012