Gareth Duncan
Growing up in my fathers’ shop on the Isle of Skye has always given me a true sense of freedom.
I’m able to explore the wild and beautiful landscape of the island, while following in his footsteps learning how to take pride in every piece I design. From a very young age I have been obsessed with running and racing through the rough and challenging mountain range of Skye, the Cuillin Hills - a perfect match for my constant desire to escape into the wild, and my ever-lasting drive to go further. Each day offers spiritually inspiring experiences, enough to last a lifetime; true blessings from the land I love to call my home.
As a young apprentice I decided to venture away from my father’s shop and spread my wings for a while. My natural curiosity led me to an invigorating life of manual labor, working on local fishing vessels, eventually on to Norway. Enjoying a fresh new start away from the studio made for great life experiences, but never inspired me in the same way as working on my craft. However, the hands-on experience outside the studio opened my eyes to how unique my father’s self-created business really is, and how much potential awaits me.
Being able to learn my family trade, knowing Celtic design reaches far back to ancient times, inspires me to create beautiful, timeless treasures. I’m honoured to be a part of this age-old tradition.
Learning from my father and what inspires him to work in such serious ways did get to be overwhelming for me as a young man which ended up leading me to venture out curiously to a life working on local fishing vessels and further on to Norway. Enjoying a fresh new start to life away from what I was raised around made for some great life experiences, but never seemed to solely inspire me in the same way. Getting to experience these other jobs and careers hands on really helped open my eyes to see how unique my father’s self-created business really was, and how much there always was there waiting for me. Coming back home to learn my family trade and what seemed to touch the ancient ones before us so, inspiring them to create beauty and pass knowledge on. I am honoured to be a part of this and know it will always inspire me to do my best.
