Eustace was raised in the East End of Glasgow, and left school at sixteen with little qualification. He took on a variety of jobs, before joining the Royal Naval Reserve and was assigned to a minesweeper. He left the Navy at 21 and became a prison officer at HM Prison Barlinnie. His interest in photography began when he was 28 years old and decided to return to further his education and enrolled at Edinburgh Napier University. He graduated in 1991, with a BA distinction in Photographic Studies from Edinburgh Napier University and was later awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts from the same institution.
Career
Within a few months of graduating, Eustace was working regularly for GQ and ES Magazine, and had shot four covers for the former by the end of 1994. From 1994 to 1997, he was listed as a contributing photographer in GQ's masthead, and his clientele expanded to other publications including Tatler, British Vogue, The Sunday Times Magazine and Elle. Portraiture soon become his specialty and his list of sitters include Sophia Loren, Tracey Emin, Sir Paul McCartney, Ewan McGregor and Milton Glaser. Eustace has been an ambassador for the Homeless World Cup movement since January 2015. Eustace was also appointed Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University in August 2015, a position he will hold for 5 years.
Exhibitions
Common Lives, Noorderlicht, 1995: Eustace's work was showcased alongside the works of Elliott Erwitt, Duane Michals and Steve Pyke as part of the Groningin Photo Festival.
EGO, Cork Street, London, 1998: Sponsored by the Deutsche Bank, the EGO exhibition was the subject of a thirty-minute documentary made by the BBC. The show went on to become the first photographic show exhibited at the Glasgow Art Club.
The Character Project, 2009: Co-hosted by Vanity Fair, the exhibition went on a six-city tour, opening in New York and closing in Los Angeles.
Highland Heart, Hudson Studios, Manhattan, 2013: Highland Heart was staged in partnership with the Scottish Government and Edinburgh Napier University during New York's Scotland Week. The exhibition was opened by Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond.
Exhibition at the Scottish Gallery 2015, the first solo show of a photographer ever by that gallery
Projects
The Character Project, 2008: One of 11 photographers chosen to capture the character of America. David was the only non US citizen chosen, he shot portraits and landscapes as he traveled along the entirety of Route 50.
In Search of Eustace, 2009: Commissioned by Anthropoligie to create a body of work whilst on a road trip with his then teenage daughter, Rachel.
The Weir Group Portfolio, 2011: Commissioned by The Weir Group to document the workers and plants.
Highland Heart, 2012: A collection of images from the Highlands of Scotland. First shown in New York during Scotland week in 2013.
Panasonic Yosemitie, 2011: Commissioned by Panasonic to be a part of their advertising campaign for Lumix G3.
