[3][4] He moved to London in 1975, accompanying his friend Lester Queripel, hoping to launch his career as a musician and a poet.
However, there are no traces of these early poems and drawings: according to Queripel in a letter to Gilbert & George dated 12 November 1988, he consistently destroyed his work as he did not want to be called a "sissy" by his friends.
[7] He frequented the London club and pub scene, a familiar presence in places such as Blitz, where Heard worked in the 1970s, Heaven and the Café de Paris, The Bell in King's Cross and The French House in Soho.
His first exhibition of drawings in the same year, at the Stephen Bartley Gallery, was originally only meant as a backdrop to the book's launch.
"[7] His drawings were also exhibited at the Soho restaurant L'Escargot, where the first public reading of his poetry took place, performed by Stephen Chamberlain.
They are portraits of anonymous people he observed, as well as acquaintances and fellow artists such as Heard, Gilbert & George and Duggie Fields.
His poem cards were also produced by Gilbert & George, Hercules Fisherman, Judy Adam and Lorcan O' Neill.
[7] Gilbert & George wrote a commemorative text on Robilliard, "Our David", dated 7 July 1990: "David Robilliard was the sweetest, kindest, most infuriating, artistic, foul-mouthed, witty, sexy, charming, handsome, thoughtful, unhappy, loving and friendly person we ever met.
Starting with pockets filled with disorganised writings and sketches, he went on to produce highly original poetry, drawings and paintings.
His truthfulness, sadness, desperation and love of people gave his work a brilliance and beauty that stands out a mile.