Lovely! Ken, can you tell us more about your calligraphy journey? How frequently do you practice (or did you as you learned). You have such proficiency in so many hands. . . I would love to learn how you achieved it. Also, I'm curious, do you have fine handwriting as well? Your normal every day handwriting? Lastly, do you draw or have illustration experience? Your ability to recognize and execute line quality is astounding. 
Thanks Erica.
My background was fairly ordinary. I was born in 1938 and although I was attracted by lettering from an early age, in Scotland in the 1950s there was little interest in calligraphy.
In 1955 I bought “Italic Handwriting” by Tom Gourdie when it was first published and I bought a set of Osmiroid Fountain Pens. I devoured the book from cover to cover and I still consider to be invaluable for those learning Italic. Luckily, I like learning from books and I enjoyed the experience of developing an everyday Italic hand which I’ve retained as my normal handwriting to the present day. Over the years, as I found the other fundamental lettering styles in print i.e. Foundational, Uncial, Gothic etc. I just studied and copied them until I could add them to my repertoire. Gradually, over time, I began to get more and more work and some of it has been fairly prestigious. I’ve had commissions for Calligraphy for presentation to Royalty, leading Politicians, TV, the Church and various scrolls for local Government.
I’ve always been a bit of a loner as regards Calligraphy and I was (and still am) content to work away on my own.
When learning a new hand, I have a fairly structured approach, working on individual letters, gradually whittling down the number as I concentrate on those still giving trouble, until I can write the hand easily and smoothly, without too much reference to an exemplar sheet.
Even today, flexible nib writing is largely ignored in the UK as valid form of Calligraphy and, as a result, I came late to Copperplate and even later to Spencerian. Whilst I enjoy writing all hands, I have a particular liking for Copperplate.
I do some writing most days. During quiet spells in my work, I write for fun, covering many sheets of paper with random lettering in all styles.
My calligraphy is a craft which anyone can learn, and isn’t an art which requires imagination and creativity. There is a wealth of information in print these days and all that is required is observation and patience - and a love of lettering, of course.
Lastly, in answer to your question, I also draw and paint and I have produced artwork on commission as limited edition prints by an Art Gallery. I also produced the artwork for a Whisky Map of Scotland and I occasionally draw portraits.
And that’s about it. I did say that my background is fairly ordinary!
Ken
normal handwriting :-
drawing :-
painting :-
