Born in 1968 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, Davis attended Alcester Grammar School, before gaining a "Diploma in Technical illustration" from Mid-Warwickshire College, Leamington Spa in 1986. He subsequently studied illustration and graphic design at Swindon College of Art and after graduating in 1988, he worked as a graphic designer and freelance illustrator of books and magazines for the next five years before moving into comics work in 1993/1994.
