From point and shoot, to shooting the stars

I’ve always been acutely visual - photography was just something I took to at the age of 11. One of my earliest shots was of a protester getting arrested, which in retrospect, looks newsworthy.  Whether luck or instinct I think it confirmed I had an eye for a shot.

I was voracious for information (thanks, Longsight Library), soaking up everything I could about photography. That obsession evolved into a career mostly rooted in music photography with shots of musicians, artists and the occasional politician along the way. But I’ve also worked across editorial, portraiture and commissions. My work’s been published widely, both in the UK and internationally: The Guardian, The Times, The Observer, The Wall Street Journal, New Yorker and magazines like NME, Mojo and Q and many more. Also in books, magazines, on TV and in record artwork.

I’ve also spent over 30 years in graphic design and hold a BA in Fine Art, that makes me creatively eclectic I guess. Whether I’m framing a face or a fracas, I’m always looking for composition and impact. Experience in both design and photography provides an awareness of how an image competes for attention on a busy page / website. 

When I’m not behind a camera, I might be walking in nature, hanging out with friends or thinking up another new creative idea. I also like to play guitar, often to a Neil Young track. Barking dogs are the usual giveaway...