Originally from Manchester, I came to Sheffield to study a degree in Environmental Science in the late 1970s where I specialized in wildlife conservation. I trained as a teacher and now work as a lecturer of Environmental Science in Sheffield. I started photography some 16 years ago with a Pentax Spotmatic as a way of recording bird's nests. One day whilst working on a high moor in the Peak District I met a local bird photographer. A conversation led to a session in a hide on a Redshank and I was hooked. I spent the greater part of each spring for the next few years working in this way. I graduated via an Olympus OM1+2 to a Canon T90 and a 500mm lens. I started to work more away from the nest and longer throughout the year. I also began to explore other aspects of natural history. Today I use the  Canon EOS system with a variety of lenses with a EOS 1D mk2 and mk3. About 10 years ago I decided that I needed to start to sell my work and I am now represented by a number of agencies and sell images and articles to a variety of magazines and organisations. During the winter months I give slide shows and talks, usually with a strong conservation theme. I  look at different styles of photography and try to incorporate those aspects which I feel are appealing into my work. I have travelled abroad to work photographically and I can easily see why it is so popular and usually easy!  However I definitely prefer to work in the grey and dank UK- images are much harder to obtain and therefore far more satisfying.