Kristie de Garis is a writer, photographer and drystone waller.

Growing up in Caithness and developing a strong connection to the land as a child, Kristie returned to rural Scotland with her family six years ago.

Learning to lean into the necessity of a quiet and carefully curated life, Kristie found the traditional craft of drystone and her writing and photography practices shifted focus towards land and nature too.

This year Kristie completed her first book. An unconventional memoir about rebuilding - the story of growing up mixed race in the far north of Scotland, feeling connected to the land but not the people. A chaotic entrance into adult life, trauma, addiction and confusion around identity. Then the healing and return to herself that came from moving back to rural Scotland, reconnecting with the land and learning drystone. The book will be published in 2025 by Birlinn Polygon.

Kristie lives with her two daughters and enjoys walking, working in her garden, learning the drums, and alongside her eldest daughter, keeping bees.

You can see her drystone work here.