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ABOUT ME
I'm an editor and copywriter who works on magazines and online projects. But I have also worked as a book publisher, crossword compiler and maker of short films. In my spare time I like to take photos, walk the dog and make music on my beloved iPad.
This isn't a full CV. If you want one, please contact me.
My Working Life
Having been freelance for the majority of the last 11 years, I have learned that skills learned within magazine publishing can be transferred to other sectors. So I have found myself in charge of incredibly varied projects.
In 2011 I worked on an interactive sales tool for Hotpoint at Redwood. And was launch editor of LoveTech, the magazine from Best Buy.
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
In 2008 I wrote and directed four English-language public information films for Traffic Penalty Tribunal. I directed a fifth film in Welsh (but I am not responsible for the translation). You can see these films here: English | Cymraeg
Paddock pass for the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix at Montmelo near Barcelona
In 2007 covered Formula 1 for CNN.com through the 2007 season. I also looked after CNN's motoring section and wrote technology stories.
In the same year I launched GiftPuzzles.co.uk an online retailer of personalised puzzle gifts (crosswords with secret messages in, basically).
Nine books produced in 2005 to tight deadlines and even tighter budgets.
In 2005-6 I made a sideways move into the world of promotional publishing: producing impulse-purchase books. I put together a team of freelances to produce nine 320-page part-illustrated books from concept-to-print and created content – principally crosswords, quizzes and sudoku, for many others.
Interview on NOW TV about electric cars.
As a journalist my specialism has been technology and motoring (though I also wrote about music on NME for some years). I got my first work experience on Auto Express magazine and, in future years, worked on several Top Gear brand extensions and various automotive customer magazines.
My training in journalism coincided with the explosion of the World Wide Web. And I was quick to embrace this new technology.
I wrote for magazines like EMAP's Internet and Dennis's Escape and was contributing editor of the independent Cyberia magazine. In 1997 I moved to New York as a pioneering telecommuter. The idea was that I'd work for magazines in London but live in New York. It didn't work out quite as I'd planned. International monetary transfers were not as easy then as they are now. Fortunately I was asked if I'd like to return to London to edit a business to business magazine (MultiMedia) to which I was a freelance contributor.
Top row: MultiMedia magazine before (left) and after I took over
Bottom row: Escape magazine and my column and Cyberia magazine
In late 1997 I spotted a job opportunity that was like a childhood fantasy: senior writer on a soon-to-be-launched magazine based on the BBC Television programme Tomorrow's World. I wrote features and news stories but the really great part of the job was being in charge of TWIRT (Tomorrow's World Institute of Rigorous Testing), a 30(ish)-page section of reviews of gadgets, including investigations into outlandish claims made by manufacturers conducted with the help of various university laboratories.
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
When Tomorrow's World closed, after disappointing sales, I moved over to Haymarket which was just about to relaunch Stuff, Dennis's men's lifestlye title, as a gadget magazine. In many ways it was like business-as-usual. Haymarket had a good track record in the electronics sector with What HiFi? and Stuff seemed a perfect fit within its portfolio.
And then I went freelance … which brings this story full circle.
