From West Lothian to the the Scottish Borders, we eventually settled in Caithness when I was seven. Growing up surrounded by Flow Country, stone and sea, I formed a deep connection with the land—one that stayed with me even after I left rural Scotland in my late teens. It wasn’t until six years ago, when I moved to Perthshire with my own family, that I truly began to reconnect with the slower, quieter rhythms of life.
Diagnosed with ADHD in my late-thirties I learned to embrace a more intentional way of living. A carefully curated life where spending more time outdoors has become vital for my well-being. This shift led me back to one of my childhood fascinations—the traditional craft of drystone walling. There’s something deeply grounding about working with my hands, in sync with the land, doing what I can with what I have. You can see my drystone here.
Alongside drystone walling, I’m a writer and photographer, drawn to storytelling in all its forms. This year has been a significant one for me: I completed my first book, a memoir, Drystone – A Life Rebuilt, which will be published by Birlinn Polygon in August 2025.
Blurb below -
‘Kristie De Garis thought she could outrun the chaos, and leaving Edinburgh for rural Scotland feels like a last chance. But landscapes that offered solace in childhood now force her to face everything she hoped to leave in the past: a life shaped by racism, trauma, undiagnosed ADHD, and addiction. Juggling motherhood and a fractured sense of self, she turns to nature and the unyielding discipline of drystone walling to confront what’s broken—and imagine what might be rebuilt.
Unflinchingly honest and unexpectedly funny, this is a story of survival, self-discovery, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again. Rare in its candour and clarity, 'Drystone - A Life Rebuilt' is a book that stays with you—a reflection on what we build and what we leave behind.’
I also had the privilege of creating my first public art piece as part of Scotland’s Remembering Together project, a meaningful initiative that reflects on collective memory and community. You can read more about my memorial here.
Whether I’m behind the camera, at my laptop, or lifting stones, I’m driven by a deep love for the land and the stories it holds.
You can find me on