John Barrington

JOHN BARRINGTON is an established storyteller and author, who herded 780 Scottish Blackface sheep on the 2000ft Perthshire mountains above Loch Katrine. Successful at sheepdog trials, shepherd and dogs have given demonstration of their ancient craft at two Garden Festivals and many shows, galas and Highland Games.

In 1998, the Scottish Qualification Authority asked John Barrington to design a course in sheepdog handling and management, which took two years to complete. The first classes were run at Oatridge Agricultural College, new Edinburgh, in 2000, the author at the helm. Students were enrolled from Ireland, England and all parts of Scotland.

With a good eye for sheep, John Barrington judged the classes of Shetland sheep at the Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh in 1994. This was followed by several judging trips to Europe. Shepherding is acknowledged to be the second oldest profession in the world, so there are many, many stories to be told.

Red Sky at Night, his first book and a UK bestseller, won him a Scottish Arts Council book award.