Iain D. Urquhart, born and raised on the Isle of Harris, Scotland, has a deep connection with Scottish traditional music that dates back to his early years. From a young age, he showcased his talents at local Mòd competitions, engaging in poetry recitals, storytelling, sight reading, and both solo and choir singing. Even in primary school, he began crafting his own stories, which he would passionately recite at the Mòds.
His artistic inclinations led him to pursue a degree in design at the Glasgow School of Art, where he graduated with honors in 1988. Throughout his teenage years, amidst the Heavy Rock and Punk era, Iain demonstrated his artistic skills by painting band logos on leather jackets and sewing them onto denim jackets. Notably, one of his leather jackets was worn by Donnie Munro of Runrig during a tour, a moment captured on YouTube.
Musically inspired by the Canadian rock trio Rush, Iain wrote lyrics for his sister Donna’s rock bands, ‘101’ and ‘Mise Mise,’ which gained visibility on BBC Scotland’s Gaelic TV program ‘Brag.’ In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he worked as a staff presenter for BBC Gaelic Radio and TV, hosting programs like ‘Caithris na h-Oidhche’ and ‘Car mu Chnoc.’ Iain’s involvement extended to cartoon voiceovers and the production of Gaelic propaganda posters featuring prominent Scottish and Irish figures.
Following a diverse career path, Iain was ordained as a Church of Scotland Minister in 1997, serving in Glasgow, the Isle of Barra, and the Isle of Skye. Despite cutbacks in 2011, he continued his journey, joining Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic College, as a lecturer to inspire the next generation of Gaelic speakers.
In 2013, Iain became a recipient of the Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Scheme, paving the way for his success at the Gaelic Literature Awards. His poetry collections in 2019 and 2023 received acclaim, with the latter winning the award for Best Unpublished Manuscript for Adults.
Not limited to his artistic and literary pursuits, Iain contributed significantly to the Gaelic language, playing a role in translating the New Testament from Greek into modern Gaelic. Additionally, he has been a prominent figure in Gaelic language teaching podcasts and radio programs, hosting ‘Beag air Bheag’ and the current ‘SpeakGaelic’ podcast, along with the supplementary ‘SpeakGaelic EXTRA.’
Iain’s journey reflects a lifelong dedication to Scottish culture, artistic expression, and the preservation and promotion of the Gaelic language and culture.