Kettleborough received a BS in Education from Northern Illinois University and an MA in Painting from Bradley University. For 16 years he was a high school art instructor and also taught college art seminars. After those years of juggling academia and my own creative energies, I made a decision to devote all my efforts to creating art in various forms, says Kettleborough. These forms have included paintings, wall and ceiling murals, and even greeting cards.
Kettleborough is a master of trompe l'oeil, or fooling the eye. I have transformed bare walls into highly decorative baroque mantelpieces and fireplaces, beachfront views, gardens complete with trellises, and even the Everglades environs. Larger than life-sized tropical birds fly through a country club, fancifully dressed monkeys parade across a ceiling, and tropical foliage abounds in the foyers of majestic residences, compliments of Don. I also enjoy portraiture and am honored that Eureka College commissioned me to paint a portrait of Nancy Reagan for their permanent collection.
Kettleborough has exhibited one-man shows at art galleries in Florida and Illinois. In addition to Eureka College, Westinghouse Communities Corporate Collection has also collected his works.