I left school and studied for an A-Level/BTEC National Diploma in Art and Design at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College in Nuneaton for two years. Having successfully completed the course, I looked at my options for going to university. Despite only having GCSE's plus my art qualifications, I was offered a place at the Department of Archaeology, University of Bradford to study a Bachelor of Science degree in Archaeology where I had lots of exciting opportunities including the chance to work on archaeological surveys in Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura) and Pakistan (Charsadda, Taxilla, North West Frontier Province, Swat and Dir Valleys) on several occasions. Much of this time was spent on soil auger surveys or EDM surveys of visible surface features. When not on site, my time was spent working on small finds illustrations of all of the artifacts discovered in previous years' excavations.

Having graduated from University, my background in art and design and a degree in archaeology naturally led me towards roles where my artistic skills and interest in / knowledge of archaeology could be combined. My first illustration job was for the Museum of London Archaeological Service (MoLAS). Looking for a new challenge, I left MoLAS after 12 months and returned home.

This gave me time to find the job I was really looking for as an archaeological illustrator for Oxford Archaeology. I later became senior illustrator and stayed at OA for over 5 years.

I then got a job working at my old art college as a lecturer in graphic design and later as A-level art coordinator. In the mean time, I set up a heritage publication company (3'S Company Ltd) with two ex-colleagues from Oxford Archaeology. In 2004, Brimstone Design & Print Ltd was set up, publishing greeting cards and fine art prints.

During all this time, I have offered my illustration skills on a freelance basis and worked for a wide variety of clients.

Throughout my life, I have had a strong interest in wildlife and the environment. In 2004 became actively involved in Butterfly Conservation in Warwickshire. I have a role on the Warwickshire branch committee of the Charity designing and running their web site and their magazine. I also have my own personal web site dedicated to British Butterflies, and my holidays and weekends are usually spent on nature reserves somewhere in the UK.