He studied at Cardiff College of Art and Swansea College of Art between 1952 and 1957 and then from 1959 to 1961 he studied at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. He then began teaching at the University of Wales before moving on to the University of Edinburgh where he also completed a Doctor of Philosophy on the Russian avant-garde.
He currently lives and works in Penarth. As a boy Davies went to Penarth County School. Davies finally retired from teaching at the Gwent College of Higher Education in 1988.
He was made an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2007 New Year Honours list.
He was elected Vice President of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art in 1995 and is a member of The Welsh Group.
