Area of Research Expertise

Illustration/ Storyboarding/ Moving Image (film and TV) Graphic Design/ Artist's Books and Self-Publishing – with a particular interest in language, and the powerful potential of narratives inside sequential combinations of text and image; locating my own work within an oral, written and visual tradition. 

Research Profile

I have maintained my professional practice as an illustrator and storyboard artist since graduating from St. Martin's School of Art in 1985 (clients including The Guardian, Penguin Books, Time Out, Working Title Films, Talkback Films, Hat Trick Productions, BBC Creative and Why Not Associates). Freelance illustration teaches the value of self-sufficiency and adaptability, plus the social skills required to deal with differing clients working within diverse group dynamics.

In film, television and advertising storyboarding I experienced different demands, often tied to the conflicting factors of creativity and finance particular to that industry.  Both careers have involved me in a process of storytelling.  My strong interest in comedy has been consolidated by working with Reeves and Mortimer, Armando Iannucci and The League of Gentlemen amongst others.

Since 1999 I have self-published my own (written and illustrated) material, exhibiting and selling at variety of 'artist's book' fairs, events and outlets. My ongoing Ensixteen Editions imprint has produced 20 titles to date and I have also been invited to lecture and write on my experiences in this elastic, increasingly evident field.  The work has been purchased by private and public collections, cited in paper and online publications and featured in exhibitions in the UK, Australia, USA and elsewhere (see details within the 'Research Outputs' page opposite).

A one-man show, hosted by The Centre for Fine Print Research (Impact Press), UWE Bristol, is planned for October 2007.  Meanwhile I have been an active tutor in F and HE since 1990, visiting many different institutions (including LCC, Norwich School of Art, and Manchester Metropolitan University), and gaining my post at Epsom in 2004.

All the professional practice above has contributed to my work with students, feeding both lectures, teaching materials and studio projects. This was strengthened by my completion of PGCE with The University of Greenwich during 2004 – 6.