I grew up in Cumbria, getting hooked on rallying when my parents woke me in the dead of night to watch Mk2 Escorts sliding round a hairpin on a local road rally. But music and skateboarding were at least as influential through my teenage years.

I studied Linguistics at The University of Glasgow, and got my break organising cars for Max Power Live, later working on Channel 4’s Driven.

A Mk1 Astra GTE became an E36 BMW M3 and I learnt car control, aping the rally heroes I’ve since been privileged to interview.

Joining CAR magazine in 2006 was my introduction to mainstream motoring journalism. It also honed my production skills – sub-editing, headlines, captions, legal stuff – and taught me how to balance a magazine flatplan, bringing both essentials and surprises to keep readers turning pages. John McGuinness driving the Isle of Man TT in an Ariel Atom. The art of former F1 driver Stefan Johansson. David Coulthard tumble-drying my socks… a bit of variety to brighten the road-test diary.

I left CAR magazine in 2013 but remain editor-at-large to this day. Over the last decade-plus as a freelancer, I’ve written for CAR, Octane, Car & Driver, The Sunday Times, Road & Track, Autoweek, Classic & Sports Car, Wheels and many more.

I also work as a commercial copywriter, writing press kits, blog posts and marketing content for everyone from well known car makers to tech start-ups.

Whenever and wherever I write, my words are always soundtracked by my favourite guitar music.

Get in touch if you’d like me to work for you, but serious offers only, no tyre kickers.