Highland woman leaves abusive husband after 47 years through welding and sculpture
Welding and sculpture gave Eve Graham financial independence and the courage to report abuse; her husband was jailed
Eve Graham, a 67-year-old resident of the Highlands, found the courage to report decades of abuse after taking up welding and sculpture, a hobby that offered a path to financial independence and a way out of a controlling marriage. Her husband, William McDonald, 76, of Ardersier, was jailed for two years after a High Court trial in Edinburgh following an Inverness case earlier this year. A jury found him guilty of assault to the danger of Eve's life, serious assault and threatening behaviour spanning from 1975 to 2022.
Ms Graham described life in the marriage as a living hell, with violence escalating when McDonald drank. On one occasion he pushed her into the sea at Nairn Harbour; on another, he bit her nose, leaving a permanent scar. She said she kept telling herself she could not cope and that she did not tell anyone for many years because she feared no one would believe her.
Her life began to change after a visit to Traquair House in the Scottish Borders, where she saw a horse figure made from scrap metal. She learned welding and began creating her own sculptures from similar material, including a large grasshopper and a dinosaur that now sit in her garden. Some pieces have been sold, and she says the reception to her work surprised her. She began to think she might become financially independent.
"Right, I will go to the police" became the turning point for her. McDonald was charged and later given a custodial sentence in connection with the abuse. Graham credits the move to pursue independence through metalwork with enabling her to report the violence and seek justice.
Graham said she received substantial support from agencies and charities. "If there is anyone out there in my situation I would say tell someone, speak to someone, friend, family. There are many fantastic services out there: Women's Aid, Rasash, Victim Support, your GP, social work. Get help, get advice. I'm living proof that even after 40 plus years, you can come through this, you can come out the other end." She added that her focus now is the future: continuing welding, building independence, and enjoying life.
If you or someone you know has been affected by domestic abuse, a list of organisations that may help is available at BBC Action Line.