I have earned my living as a writer & journalist for around 25 years, but it still feels odd to tell people that is what I do.

I originally trained and qualified as a broadcast journalist, but my first job was as a reporter for a weekly local paper. I then went on to work as a journalist and newsreader in local radio, before taking up a role as a press officer for the RSPB – which enabled me to combine my love of writing with a passion for bird watching.

Since 2010 I’ve been freelance, with bylines in a diverse range of publications, everywhere from The Guardian to The Daily Telegraph and beyond. I also became an accredited beer sommelier, which led to various public speaking and broadcast gigs, including doing a beer tasting for the late, legendary Jenni Murray on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

What I always wanted to be though was a writer. But at school I got into trouble for making things up and frightening the other pupils with my tall tales. Perhaps it was this negative response that encouraged me to pursue a career telling true stories – in the shape of reporting, journalism and feature writing. That said, I am also now returning to ‘making things up’, and have a few fiction projects on the go. If and when I finish one of these, you’ll be the first to know. Well, one of the first.

I like to write about things that move me. Most often that is nature and wildlife, even though I’ve spent a large part of my career writing about beer and pubs.

I still write about beer and pubs, when someone pays me to. Actually, I’ll write about almost anything I’m capable of writing for money. Within reason.

If you’re a commissioning editor, or anyone else looking to hire a writer, you can find links to some of my cuttings on the journalism page – and of course there’s plenty to read on here. See the ‘writing’ tab on the horizontal menu.

As a guide: the list of sections to the right, or towards the bottom of the page if you’re reading on a smartphone, is hopefully self-explanatory. But NB: Birds & wildlife is my main nature writing section, so titled to make it appear higher up the alphabetical list.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy reading me.