I was born on the Arr Farm, Lethen, Nairnshire at 4.30 am on the 24th of May, 1944, in the upstairs bedroom from where you can see one hundred miles into the North. My Mother was a midwife from the Island of Lewis. My Father, a tenant farmer, was downstairs in the kitchen with his pals, Les Murdoch Read more...

I was born on the Arr Farm, Lethen, Nairnshire at 4.30 am on the 24th of May, 1944, in the upstairs bedroom from where you can see one hundred miles into the North. My Mother was a midwife from the Island of Lewis. My Father, a tenant farmer, was downstairs in the kitchen with his pals, Les Murdoch and Ed James. I was brought up by three German prisoners of war, two sisters and a Collie Dog called Lucky in the last days of Clydesdale Horses and no electricity. In 1952 my Father bought a Ferguson Tractor, but then drowned in 1957 so I joined the Royal Navy where I was introduced to art, especially Gauguin. Commander Lewis-Jones encouraged this interest and sent me, under guard, from HMS Condor in Arbroath to Duncan of Jordonston School of Art in Dundee every Thursday night and then, when my drawing improved, discharged me, amicably and not totally dishonourably, in 1963. I then went home to Nairnshire and dug holes for the Hydro Board, from Skye to Turriff till 1965 when I went to Art School in Aberdeen where I fell in love (unrequited) with Ceramics.

In 1971, in Edinburgh, by accident, I started work as a Baker, then Potter, at Garvald, Edinburgh where I have been ever since, mainly due to happiness.

I has three children, Esther, Daniel and Luke, but no dog. I was very lucky, in 1971, to meet my wonderful, beautiful, ex-wife Ruth, and lucky that a woman as smashing as herself managed to live with me until 1986 when she divorced me.


Website: donaldker.com