Don was born and raised in Santa Cruz and has always been interested in art.  He can remember as far back as the first grade enjoying drawing and painting.  During Don's high school years he worked in oils with nationally known local artist Claude Buck.

Don entered San Jose State University in 1949 and graduated in 1954 in Fine Arts.  He then spent two years in the Navy at the Naval Security Station in Washington, D.C. as an electronic draftsman.

On returning to Santa Cruz, Don worked five years at the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper in their Display Advertising Department as an artist and salesperson.  From 1958 to 1962 Don worked on many facets of the Miss California Pageant as Production and Art Director.  In 1960 he became co-owner of Sentinel Printers, a print shop in Santa Cruz.

Since retiring in 1992 Don has been working in watercolor.  He took some refresher courses with Terry Hogan at Cabrillo College and has worked with local watercolorists Mike Bailey, Marie Gabrielle and Elizabeth Kincaid.  He has also attended workshops under the direction of Don Andrews A.W.S. and Arnie Westerman A.W.S.

His watercolors have been exhibited in various galleries, offices and restaurants throughout Santa Cruz County, including the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, Government Center, Cafe Rio and Print Smith in Aptos.

He has also participated in art shows in Aptos, Scotts Valley "Art Under the Oaks",  "Festival of the Arts" in Palo Alto,  Silver Mountain Vineyard, Saratoga Rotary Art Show, Pacific,  Pacific Fine Art in San Jose, and the Santa Cruz County Fair where he received Honorable Mention in 2004;  3^rd Place in 2006; 1^st and 3^rd Places in 2008; 2^nd Place and Honorable Mention in 2009. 

Don was selected to do the poster for the 2003 Wharf to Wharf Race and the 2006 Santa Cruz County Fair poster.  He has been named to the Santa Cruz Art League's 2004 Winners Circle.

Don is a member of the Santa Cruz Art League and the Santa Cruz Watercolor Society.  He has participated in the Santa Cruz Cultural Council Open Studios Tour from 1997 through 2009.