Kenneth Gardiner grew up in London's East End during the war. He completed a degree in Indian history before doing two years compulsory training in the RAF. He then moved to Tokyo on a Monbusho scholarship where he spent three years reading and translating the works of classical Chinese philosophers and poets, whose style gradually influenced his own.
In 1966 Gardiner came to Canberra to work at the Australian National University. Gardiner's poetry was published in Island as well as in various local publications including Muse, Blast and the Canberra Times. His work also appeared in two anthologies: The Poetry of Canberra (1990) and Looking Out, Looking In (1994), with four other Canberra poets.
Gardiner read his poetry in numerous venues around Canberra including the Canberra Theatre, Cafe Neruda and various art galleries as well as on public radio.