Educated at St Mungo's Academy and the Glasgow School of Art, he had a long period of work in advertising (before, during and after World War II), before returning to the newspaper business (initially in Glasgow), but later for the Edinburgh-published The Scotsman.
Having received his education at St Mungo's Academy and the Glasgow School of Art, he spent a considerable amount of time working in advertising (during both World Wars), before returning to the newspaper sector (firstly in Glasgow) and eventually joining the Edinburgh-based The Scotsman.