I grew up in England, went to University there (started as a maths major but ended up doing Eng. Lit), but by the time I was 23 I'd had enough. By chance I met an American photographer called Roswell Angier, and I ended up moving to Boston, MA for six months and living with him and his wife Holly Sue. He taught me everything it is important to know about taking photographs, and I am for ever in his debt.

When my money ran out I went back to England, where I failed completely to get any work as a professional photographer and became a documentary filmmaker instead. I ended up producing and directing a whole bunch of films for British TV (you can check my IMDB filmography here, which includes current movie projects I'm allowd to talk about).

By 1998, though, I was running out of steam. I needed to do something different, so after being an 'executive' for a year for four days a week I quit my job tried my hand as a professional screenwriter. (Maybe one day I'll get around to putting some details on this site about how you actually go about this, which is a very well kept secret).

Well, three years later I don't regret that decision one bit.

Now my time is divided inconsistently between writing and photography, but I don't make a penny from the latter and I think that's the way I'd like it to stay.

In June 2000 I moved with my wife and son to Canada, where we're now settled.

The main thrust of my photography continues to be 35mm street work but I am increasingly intrigued by the possibility of using larger formats, including 4x5. I've tried this, and it's definitely possible, but it's going to be a long and painful process figuring out how to make it work.

I've also found myself photographing landscapes: very badly, in the main. But one or two subjects, and I think particularly my emotional relationship with England and its incarnations, have a terrific pull for me and I think perhaps I am beginning to get somewhere with them.

So much striving for so little result! But as always I am reminded of the words of Robert Frank, himself quoting Malraux, when he wrote in his Guggneheim application: