Colin Davidson was born in Belfast in 1968. After his education at Methodist College (1980-87), he gained a first class honours degree from the Art and Design Faculty of the University of Ulster (1991). Immediately he began exhibiting at Tom Caldwell Gallery in Belfast and has maintained a strong bond with the gallery, having had several solo exhibitions (1997, 1999, 2002 and 2004).

Davidson also exhibits regularly at Solomon Gallery in Dublin and Gallery Revel in New York. Awards include: Communication Arts California (1994), Creative Review (1994), RUA Silver Medal (1997), RUA Conor Prize (2001), RUA Silver Medal (2002).

Collections include:
AIB, Anglo Irish Bank, Boyle Civic Collection, Cobra Golf USA, Gabriel Byrne, First Trust Bank, National Self Portrait Collection of Ireland, Parliament Buildings Stormont, Senator George Mitchell, Standard Life UK and Ulster Bank.

After an initial career in graphic design, Davidson began painting full-time in 2000.