STONE BY STONE: REBUILDING A LIFE WITH KRISTIE DE GARIS

What does it take to rebuild your life when the past feels too heavy to carry? Writer, photographer and drystone waller Kristie De Garis tells her extraordinary story of confronting trauma, addiction, ADHD and motherhood—and how she found renewal through the stubborn, grounding craft of drystone walling. Learning to work with stone, piece by piece, gave her strength, purpose and a sense of belonging. In this inspiring and candid session, Kristie reflects on silence, solitude and the surprising ways we can put ourselves back together. With humour, honesty and warmth, she invites us to consider what walls we’ve built – and which ones we’re ready to rebuild.

About the Author: Kristie De Garis is a Scottish writer, photographer and one of very few female drystone-wallers in the world. Her debut memoir Drystone: A Life Rebuilt (August 2025) charts her journey from chaos and trauma to resilience and renewal in the Scottish landscape. Her work has been featured in The Bookseller, The Times and Smithsonian Magazine.

Social media: @wanderwalling