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ABOUT ME
I get paid to write things. I get paid to edit things. And sometimes I pay other people to write things, draw things and photograph things.
This isn't so much a CV as a series of important moments in my life. If you're looking for a CV, please contact me.
KEY MOMENTS IN THE JOURNEY TO MIDDLE AGE
2010 - 2005 The Married Years
• Made my stand-up debut in December 2009 at the Komedia New Acts Night in Brighton
• Completed the first draft of my first novel Human Passions Delineated. I'm not looking to get it published, it was more about the process.
• Found an NHS dentist that is accepting new patients.
James Snodgrass (left) as Wojtek in Television To Go.
An actor pulled out at the last moment, making it necessary for me to fill-in as the Polish IT-repair guy. Respect due to the excellent director of photography, David Procter
• Wrote and directed four English-language information films for Traffic Penalty Tribunal. I directed a fifth film, translated into Welsh from my original. English | Cymraeg
• Flew to Barcelona to participate in Philippe Gaulier's clown school
Paddock pass for the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix at Montmelo near Barcelona
• Covered Formula 1 for CNN.com through the 2007 season. I also looked after CNN's motoring section and wrote technology stories.
• Launched GiftPuzzles.co.uk an online retailer of personalised puzzle gifts (crosswords with secret messages in, that kind of thing).
• Learned to compile crosswords and used computers to make puzzles like Kakuro and Sudoku which I sold to publishers.
• Produced nine part-illustrated 320-page books from concept-to-production for clients in the promotional publishing sector.
Nine books produced in 2005 to tight deadlines and even tighter budgets. The cover designs aren't to my taste but they are of a style appreciated by the clients
2004 - 2001 Entering Self-Employment
• Married Lynne in a delightful pub overlooking the River Ouse.
• In 2003 I started writing for NME and listened to music and met The Libertines, and that. I continued writing for the magazine until I was 35 (or roughly twice the age of the target reader).
• Moved to Brighton
• Co-wrote a book about household appliances for Reader's Digest.
• Worked with Nik Berg on several Top Gear brand extensions.
• Appeared regularly on TV and radio as a technology pundit.
Interview on NOW TV about electric cars.
2001 - 1998 The Gadget Years
• Left Stuff to pursue a freelance career.
• My fourth play So Long, Sugarplum debuted at Camden People's Theatre.
• Worked on the relaunch of Stuff magazine at Haymarket and spent 18 months as deputy editor.
• Bought a 1974 Citroen DS23 Pallas.
• Appointed senior writer at BBC Tomorrow's World magazine, editing the gadget review pages. Sadly the magazine didn't meet sales targets and closed.
Back row: The first issue of Tomorrow's World magazine; I test thrill rides for TWIRT
Front row: The second issue of Stuff after relaunch; an opinion column about pay per view television
1997 - 1994 The Internet Years
• Appointed editor of MultiMedia. I flew back to London and embarked on a swift redevelopment of the title.
• Spent three months as a virtual commuter living in Brooklyn but working in London. It was a partial success stymied by bank charges.
• Worked in retail radio, announcing the business news to motorway service stations and updating Little Chef's teletext service.
• Contributing editor to Cyberia and columnist for Escape, both fledgling internet magazines.
• Got stuck underground in a derailed train on the Bakerloo Line
• Completed my postgraduate diploma in journalism from City University.
• Worked in a bookshop in London to a relentless soundtrack of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen best-ofs. I cannot stomach these "greats" to this day.
• Script-doctored a low-budget British movie.
• Moved to London
• Wrote my third play, Si-Fi and took it to Edinburgh. It was critically slated, with very good reason. Four nights into the run, I couldn't bear to watch it myself.
• Completed my MA in Playwriting at Birmingham University, where I was taught by writers including David Edgar, Alan Bennett and the late Anthony Minghella.
Top row: MultiMedia magazine before (left) and after I took over
Bottom row: Escape magazine and my column (I mistakenly thought an unlit cigarette in my mouth looked edgy) and Cyberia magazine
1993 - 1990 The Undergraduate Years
• Took two self-penned plays to Edinburgh, with a cast and crew of 22 talented souls.
• Received a degree in Philosophy and English.
• As entertainments officer of the Student Union I booked bands and events and helped coordinate ticket sales and marketing.
• Started at University of York in October 1990.
Top: Piers Bearne and Dominic Egan in Arthur's Patents (1993) (The List)
Centre: Gawain Towler in Arthur's Patents (1993) (flyer)
Bottom: Richard Coyle and Doug Baird in Living Together Falling Apart (1993) (flyer)
1971 - 1990 Childhood
• Passed my driving test and played my first (and last) gig as the lead-singer of a band on the same day.
• Did GCSEs and A-Levels.
• Born in Blackpool in late 1971.
