Donovan grew up on a 560-acre farm in Autauga County, just outside of Montgomery, Alabama. During college, Donovan's creativity was evident when he began playing in an eleven-member "oldies" music band called The Cadillacs. Donovan attended Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where he received a double major in Art and Business. He later earned an MBA from Samford Graduate School of Business in 1976. However, before that, Donovan had already begun what is proving the be a very successful career when he joined Southern Living magazine in 1974 as a staff artist. In 1987, he was named Art Director. In the spring of 1991, Donovan transferred to the Progressive Farmer division and was put in charge of the creation and conceptualization of Countryplace magazine. Graced with artistic talent, he was soon named Art Director of all Progressive Farmer magazines and in November of 1992, named Director of Art and Production. The regular-page layouts, special section layouts, color schemes, and photography selection are all a result of Donovan's art and production team.