About Me

Thanks to an architect dad and artist mum, I’ve inherited a natural desire to create. My school years in Hong Kong were rich with amazing experiences. I stayed for twelve years, visiting many countries in the region and more en-route to the UK during trips home. My background has afforded me a valuable insight into overseas cultures and a different perspective to life in Britain.

At school, I enjoyed writing and had stories published in the school magazine, but the focus of my creative attention was design. Returning to the UK, I completed a year’s Foundation in Art and Design (Maidstone), a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design (Loughborough University) and a Master’s in Design Strategy and Innovation (Brunel University).

In adulthood a love of writing has blossomed. It started with poems in the summer between my degrees. Short stories, sitcoms, and sketches followed. In the last few years I’ve been inspired by my young sons to write and illustrate stories for them. 

I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and was SCBWI's featured illustrator for the Winter 2009 issue of their quarterly magazine. I write poetry, supply pictures and created the logo for The Funeverse, an online forum that promotes poetry in schools. I have provided illustrations for on line magazine New Fairy Tales (www.newfairytales.co.uk).

Outside of writing, my career has comprised two years in sales and fifteen in project management. Through it, I have built commercial acumen and an ability to communicate with decision makers; skills I will need to invest in promoting my writing and illustration. Perhaps, the major experiences that I can take from my career into my writing are professionalism, persistence, confidence and resilience. I’m determined to succeed but expect to roll with a few punches along the way. I possess a mind bursting with imaginative ideas and an overriding thirst to create.

The photo is from primary school in 1981 (Peak School, Hong Kong), I am bottom row second from right, without tie in the non uniform jumper and socks! 

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