Harry D. Watson was born in 1946 in Crail, Fife, and grew up in neighbouring Cellardyke in the parish of Kilrenny, the subject of his book Kilrenny and Cellardyke: 800 Years of History (1986). He has also written a literary biography of his distant relative, the Anstruther-born poet and scholar

Audrey Dakin is a Project Officer at the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, and former Chief Officer of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Miles Glendinning is Professor of Architectural Conservation at the University of Edinburgh, and Director of the Scottish Centre for

Sir Thomas Dalyell Loch of The Binns, 11 th Baronet – better known as Tam Dalyell – was born in Edinburgh in 1932 and inherited the Baronetcy of the Binns via his mother in 1972. Educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Eton College, he did his National Service with the Royal Scots

William Daniell RA (1769-1837), who was orphaned by the age of 10, was raised by his uncle, a talented artist. When William was only fourteen, they sailed to India via China. On their return to England, ten years later, they published jointly prints of oriental and Indian views. William

Doris Davidson was born in Aberdeen in 1922, the daughter of a master butcher and country lass. Her idyllic childhood was shattered in 1934 with the death of her father, after which, in order to make ends meet, her mother was forced to take in lodgers. In part due to her father's sudden

Dr Graeme Davis is a specialist in the mediaeval world, its language, literature and culture. Recent books include studies of the language and literature of Anglo-Saxon, Old High German and Old Icelandic cultures. He is a research fellow at Northumbria University, previously a British Academy funded

Dixie Deans is a true Celtic football club legend. Between 1971 and 1976, he scored 132 goals in 184 games – a tally that earned him a place in the pantheon of greats to have worn the famous green and white hoops – and was part of the great Celtic team that swept to nine consecutive

John Deering’s first book, Team on the Run (Mainstream, 2003), was a study of his time with the chaotic but charismatic Linda McCartney Cycling Team and went on to be voted 5th best cycling book of all time. He has supplied many features to publications such as Procycling , The Official

Tom Devine is the Sir William Fraser Chair of Scottish History and Palaeography at the University of Edinburgh, widely acknowledged to be the world's premier Chair of Scottish History, and also Director of the Scottish Centre of Diaspora Studies and Head of School. He is the author or editor of

Bob Dewar was born in Edinburgh. He was first published nationally when he was sixteen. He has illustrated books of verse in Lallans and Doric and educational books in Gaidhlig. As well as books for Black and White, Birlinn and Oxford University Press, his work has appeared in The Scottish Field

Joshua Dickson was born in Alaska and came to Scotland to study at Aberdeen University. He completed a PhD in Scottish ethnology at Edinburgh University in 2001 and currently works at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

Helen Dingwall was a Senior Lecturer in History and Politics at the University of Stirling, retiring in 2005. She has written many articles and books, including Physicians, Surgeons and Apothecaries: Medicine in Seventeenth Century Edinburgh. David Hamilton , until he retired in 2005, was a

Piers Dixon lives in Innerleithen. He has excavated on both urban and rural medieval sites in the Borders, and now works in Edinburgh for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. He is also a member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists and a Fellow of the

Professor David Purdie’s career in academic medicine -and golf - has ideally fitted him to describe the physical, and, especially, the mental afflictions of the golfer. His work as a journalist and as a speechwriter for Sam Torrance and Colin Montgomerie has given him insights into the game

William Donaldson is a Scottish social historian and piper. Two of his earlier books, The Jacobite Song and Popular Literature in Victorian Scotland , received a Scottish Arts Council Book Award and the Thomas Blackwell Memorial Prize.

Ian Donnachie is a Professor in History and Director of the Centre for Scottish Studies at The Open University in Scotland, and also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is the author of Robert Owen and co-author of The Birlinn Companion to Scottish History .

David Dorward practiced as a solicitor before joining the staff at the University of St Andrews. He is the author of several other books, including Scottish Surnames (also published by Birlinn) and Dundee, Names, People and Places.

Tom Doyle has written for Q, Mojo, Elle and Melody Maker. He was born in Dundee and lives in London.

Andrew Drummond was born in Edinburgh and educated at the University of Aberdeen, where he studied modern languages. He has published a number of translations from German, and his first novel, An Abridged History of the Construction of the Railway Line between Garve, Ullapool and Lochinver

In 1997 Norman Drummond founded Columba 1400, the UK’s first ever purpose-built International Leader Centre, specialising helping young people from underprivileged backgrounds to become leaders. Formerly a headteacher and BBC governor, he is in great demand with top politicians and

Neil Drysdale has been involved in sports journalism since the mid-1980s and praised for the quality of his writing across a wide range of subjects.  He was Bank of Scotland Feature Writer of the Year in 1998, as well as runner-up in 1999. He now works freelance and writes mostly for The

Born: 1928 on the shores of Loch Fyne, Argyll. Died: Kirkcaldy in 2007. With over ten books to his name, Duncan Williamson was one of the best-known of Scotland’s traveler storytellers. His autobiography tells his own story of his life as a traveler, hawking his wares, collecting stories,

Robert Duncan was raised in Forres and studied at the universities of Aberdeen and Warwick. He is author of several publications on labour and social history and is currently a Workplace Learning Verifier with the Workers Educational Association in Scotland.