Born in Perthshire, Doug Cocker RSA studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art (1963-68) and went on to lecture in sculpture at Nene College, Northampton, followed by posts at Edinburgh University, Glasgow School of Art, Grays School of Art, Aberdeen and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee.
Cocker comes from a long line of farmers and blacksmiths and his work speaks of the history of the rural Perthshire landscape he grew up in. It is unsurprising that nature takes centre stage in his work. His material is mainly wood, in many shapes and forms. He builds his pieces with exact precision developing and forming movement from static material.
Cocker was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1984 and a full Member in 2005.