Portrait of the artist – Leaside’s David Peacock

Many readers of Leaside Life know Jane Pitfield’s excellent history, Leaside (1999). The book’s cover shows a painting of William Lea’s iconic and historic octagon house, after which Leaside is named, and which burned down in 1913. Less known, perhaps, is the artist behind the painting. His name is David Peacock, and he hails from Leaside.

Leaside and painting

David grew up at 117 Airdrie Rd. in the 1940s and early 1950s. The son of a successful businessman, he attended Rolph Road Public School and Leaside High School. While at LHS, he developed a passion for painting which began when he and fellow classmate, and friend, Duncan Currie, took an art class together. “Every weekend,” David recalls, “we’d drive to the countryside near Markham, set up our easels and paint.” Later, they spent a summer studying painting at the Banff School of Fine Arts. “That really convinced me I wanted to be a painter,” says David, who went on to attend the Ontario College of Art on a scholarship. It was there he met his future wife and soulmate, Suzanne, whom he married in 1958.

Earning a living

“Marriage soon made me realize that painting wouldn’t pay the bills. So, after my first year at OCA, I switched to their advertising and illustration program as a more assured way of earning a living.” Over the next three decades, David forged a successful career as a creative executive and art director at some of Canada’s most prestigious ad agencies.

Painting, however, remained his first love. A set of oil paints his daughter Gabrielle gave him on his 54th birthday was just the catalyst he needed to return to the canvas.

Back to painting

Since then, David has produced hundreds of paintings, many of which have been shown at exhibitions across Ontario – including Toronto, Peterborough and Oakville, where he has lived since 1969. His work often depicts landscapes, still-lives, village scenes and buildings, reflecting his interest in architecture and love of southern France, where he has frequently travelled. In addition, he’s published and illustrated two children’s books and co-authored, with his wife, a study of 19th century Oakville architecture, entitled Old Oakville (1979).

Leaside again

While David was busy resuming his painting, Jane Pitfield (née Jane Toller) was busy editing and writing her book about Leaside. As the project neared completion, she began looking for someone to illustrate the book’s cover. “I asked a friend if she knew any artists familiar with Leaside,” says Jane, “and she suggested David Peacock.” Working from a contemporary black-and-white photo of the William Lea house, and with input from Jane, David created a beautiful colour portrait that captured the look and feel of the original house and its setting. It took him about five or six hours to paint and now hangs in Jane’s office in Pontiac, QC, where she serves as warden of Pontiac Regional County Municipality.

David continues to live in Oakville, while retaining fond memories of Leaside. In 2024, he donated over 100 of his paintings to Oakville’s Knox Presbyterian Church. Proceeds from their subsequent auction raised more than $35,000 for the church and its programs.

If William Lea – himself a painter and collector – were alive today, I’m sure he’d want to buy one of David’s paintings. And I think I know what his first choice would be.

The author would like to thank David Peacock, Jane Toller Pitfield and Phyllis Ellis for their generous assistance as he was researching this article.