David Ernest Wilson was born on 4 July 1872 at Minterburn Manse, County Tyrone.

Wilson attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and later took drawing classes in the evening at the Government School of Design while he worked at the Northern Bank.

He married Edith Mary Mageean in 1899, and the couple moved to London, where Wilson enrolled at the Sphinx Studio.

He was also published in the London Opinion, The Sketch, The Star, Temple Magazine, Life, Tatler, The Passing Show, The World and Pan.

Among the books he illustrated are Through a Peer Glass: Winnie's Adventures in Wastemonster (1908) by Arthur Waghorne, A Song of the Open Road and other verses (1916) by Louis J. McQuilland, and Wilhelm the Ruthless (1917) by A.

[2] Wilson died on 2 January 1935 at his home, 22 Downton Avenue, Streatham Hill, Surrey.