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Griffiths was born in Liverpool and brought up in Pwllheli in north Wales. He was inspired by his grandfather whose portrait of Prime Minister William Gladstone hung in Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery in 1889.

He trained at The Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London, under the direction of Sir William Coldstream, Sir Ernst Gombrich and Sir Anthony Blunt. After graduating he soon established himself as an accomplished painter.

Griffiths first came to notice for his depiction of Prince Charles in 1969, the year of his investiture as Prince of Wales.

He went on to paint figures such as Lord Tonypandy, Lord Bernard Weatherill, Lord Callaghan, Enoch Powell, Dr Rowan Williams, Dr. Barry Morgan, Archdruid James Nicholas, Archdruid Sir Cynan Evans Jones, Bryn Terfel, Sir Geraint Evans and Barry John.

Griffiths has exhibited widely and is represented in many public and private collections including the House of Lords, National Library of Wales, Cardiff's City Hall, Newport Museum and Art Gallery plus various universities and colleges including the University of Wales, Liverpool University, Llandovery College, Trinity College and Lampeter College.

One of Griffiths' earliest works, Llaregyb, based on Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood, which was first exhibited in the 1958 Ebbw Vale Eisteddfod, was recently rediscovered having spent 50 years in storage.

David Griffiths' painting of Rhodri Morgan. Image courtesy of the artist.

In January 2011, Griffiths' two portraits of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan were unveiled. One of the portraits was commissioned by the National Assembly and the other was bought by the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.

Griffiths currently lives in Roath, Cardiff.