Douglas Lawrence hails from Buckie in Banffshire where he was born in 1957.

He started playing violin at the age of nine when given a violin by his maternal grandfather, Duncan MacLeod. Duncan was a forester from the Black Isle, famed within the locality as a composer, raconteur and violin repairer. He gave Douglas much encouragement, even after his death remaining an influence as his favourite violin (pictured right) a 1906 George Dyker of Forres remains in the family.

At school Douglas was given violin tuition from Steven Merson. It was he who introduced Douglas, at the age of twelve, to Hector MacAndrew, -one of the greatest exponents of Scottish fiddle playing. He went on to become MacAndrew's most distinguished pupil, winning every major fiddle competition, including the International Gathering of the Clans at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh in 1977 and the Golden Fiddle in 1979. Douglas has also written a few tunes, his compositions winning at the Elgin, Banchory and Kirriemuir festivals, with two of his latest on his current recording being, "The Findhorn Clerk of Works" and "Lorna's Delight", both receiving critical acclaim However, he kept regular contact with Hector MacAndrew up until his death in 1980. In tribute to Hector MacAndrew, Douglas performed the Slow Air "Robert Cormack" with Yehudi Menuhin at a concert in Inverness on 21st April 1980 - an event talked of to this day.

Douglas studied for four years at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, where he obtained a performers diploma, and also first met Alastair Moore., a fellow student. On graduating, he spent twenty years performing, touring and recording with the Scottish National Orchestra. Over the years Douglas and Alastair performed together widely throughout Scotland and have remained good friends ever since. Douglas is delighted that Alastair has contributed his musicianship on the latest CD.

Douglas has broadcast regularly on both local and national television and radio.
Not only highly regarded as a performer, he is much in demand as both an adjudicator and teacher.

Douglas has toured extensively throughout Europe, the Far East, as well as the United States of America and New Zealand where he has performed and given workshops to great acclaim. Closer to home he teaches at theGlasgow Fiddle Workshop, Falkirk Fiddle Workshop and is on the teaching staff list of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.