Joe Dinwiddie learned traditional drystone masonry in central Kentucky during a revival of that craft in the 1990s. An international consultant on drystone masonry, Richard Tufnell, a member of the Drystone Walling Association of Great Britain (DSWA), came to Kentucky from Scotland to train masons in restoration and new construction.  Tufnell observed characteristics of stone structures in numerous countries and noticed commonalities of those that failed, and for those that withstood the test of time. He synthesized the sound drystone building methodology from this global perspective, and matched it to the prevalent Scottish/Irish aesthetics of structures in central Kentucky.

After seven years of working for and with other drystone masons in Kentucky, Joe Dinwiddie started Dinwiddie Drystone Masonry in 2004.  In 2006, he earned a DSWA intermediate-level drystone masonry certificate in the Ae Forest of Scotland, home to his Dinwiddie ancestors and distant relatives.  In 2001, he completed a DSWA drystone masonry instructor’s course, and that same year received his master’s degree in vocational education from the University of Kentucky.  He leads many educational programs on drystone masonry, ranging from one-hour presentations to 70 hour hands-on continuing education workshops.