Heart Home magazine Issue 12 - July 2014 | Page 42

Ok David
Words by Liggy Griffiths

Omprakash Kaga David or OK David, as
he’s widely known, is a successful illustrator
and writer with a string of interesting
projects to his name. He is originally from
the suburbs but don’t let this fool you; his
Indian heritage and active imagination will
take you places much further afield.

“I’m from the boring suburbs” says David, “but we
had a big garden and my sister, brother and I were
always good at finding lots of imaginative space to
play.” He explains warmly. David is half Indian,
which he feels, “helps you become an escapist.”
“I was told tales about India and met lots of people
who spoke, dressed and cooked in a way that
intrigued me and made me wonder. Every night
my dad told me stories from his childhood…my
dad is the best at bedtime stories” he reminisces.

degree in literature at University. Despite doing
so well academically, he secretly admits that he
doesn’t like being told what to do. “I am most
content when I can do as I choose…..that’s why I
like making stories and pictures” explains David.
“They’re mine.”

It soon becomes apparent that David has a deep
and interesting personality. His images aren’t
just created to evoke quick smiles like Disney
characters; they come from somewhere deeper.
Somewhere further away. Dreaming up stories
These fond memories are what inspired David to and illustrations is, for David, a way of cleansing
follow a career in writing. He started young whilst his soul. Like a form of meditation.
at boarding school, and later went onto pursue a
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