An oil and gas worker is setting up his own firm – to design skateboard decks.
Veteran skater Gary Kemp is to launch Doric Skateboards using the North-east as inspiration for his designs.
The 40-year-old got back into skateboarding following a 16 year break after his father became seriously ill. It led him to analyse his own life.
Mr Kemp said he kept an eye on the local boarding scene and started refurbishing old decks.
He said: “I’d amassed a bit of a collection and dabbled in the restoration of old decks, drawing some ideas on a blank or two.
“It was doing this that made me realise how much I enjoyed just handling skateboards and working with them.
“In the back of my mind these designs were whirling around and manifested in doodles of logos and graphics that didn’t yet exist.”
Mr Kemp isn’t giving up the day job for now but said his family have been very supportive in helping him set up his own workshop for the skateboards in the loft of his house.
His brother Mark, who owns a graphic design company, has been involved with helping Mr Kemp design his own logo for Doric Skateboards.
His first print involves Aberdeen singing legend Annie Lennox and is called Street Dreams.
He said: “My company ethos is to celebrate the locality and culture of my home town by focusing on the language, the architecture and the people.
“I’ve sourced the blanks, finalised the logo, I’m satisfied with the debut graphic and I’ve had stickers made.
“I’ve also learned about screen printing and website building, made a prototype for my regular ride and am now testing out the latest screens.
“If all goes well Doric Skateboards will be launching in the coming weeks with the debut deck of Street Dreams.”
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