I entered the world in London in 1961, surrounded by the vibrant energy of the ‘swinging 60s’ and the support of a creative family. My mother was a homemaker and an extremely elegant woman, my father an engineer in the military, ironically a great upbringing for an Art Director. As an artistic child and after (almost) completing my formal education, I began working as a freelance signwriter and pictorial artist.
At the age of 21, driven by my dreams and the perceived glamour of ‘Hollywood’, I did what anybody would have done and bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles! Armed with my life’s savings of around £300, a bag of clothes, a box of paintbrushes, I jumped on-board a ‘Freddie Laker’ flight. I obviously knew no-one in California and was strangely un-perturbed by the fact that I had no idea where I was going to sleep when I got there! On reflection that seems like quite a bold move, but it set the stage for an incredible adventure that has unfolded over the past 44 years. Having frankly blagged my way through the door at Paramount, I found myself in the graphics department and through that managed to immerse myself in every aspect of the Art Department. I’m proud to say that some of the films I’ve worked on have become true classics, standing the test of time and leaving an indelible mark on cinema.
I have become a member of BAFTA, voting in the Production Design chapter, and my affiliation with the BFDG since 2007 has deepened my commitment to this craft. I have also been fortunate enough to move into education, lecturing in design for stage and screen at Buckinghamshire New University. My passion for film remains unwavering; each time I step onto a set or drive into a studio, I am filled with the same excitement and inspiration as I experienced as a young man. With gratitude for my journey and pride in my accomplishments, I reflect on how fortunate I am to call this profession my own.
