Larry Lye is the artistic writing name of Laurence Sutherland. He completed his secondary education at the Ballarat School of Mines and he became an apprentice blacksmith. During World War II he served with the Royal Australian Air Force for two years as a Leading Aircraftman, seeing service in Darwin, Moratai and Borneo. After leaving the forces, he completed a Diploma of Metallurgy at the Melbourne Technical College, and has worked as a mineral analyst in Western Australia, England, Canada, Queensland and Victoria.
