Available to hire
I’m a creative director with decades of experience steering visual identity and advertising across consumer, retail and business-to-business campaigns. I’ve led studios, built brand systems, and delivered end-to-end creative—from logo systems and packaging to below-the-line comms and exhibition graphics. I’m passionate about crafting clear concepts, guiding teams, and delivering measurable results for clients and agencies alike.
Over the years I’ve managed multi-disciplinary teams of up to eight people, cultivated long-standing client relationships, and steered both small and large campaigns from brief to final delivery. I enjoy the balance of strategic thinking and hands-on design, and I’m always keen to explore new ways to connect brands with people through thoughtful design and storytelling.
Experience Level
Expert
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Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Art Director/Graphic Designer at Sutcliffe/Reynolds/Fitzgerald
December 31, 1989 - October 18, 2025Originally Junior Art Director, progressed to Art Director/Graphic Designer. Responsibilities included concepts, designs, marker visuals, typography specs for typesetters, overseeing artwork preparation, sourcing photography/illustration, artwork colour specs, and checking printers' proofs. Involved in above- and below-the-line advertising campaigns, corporate identity and logo creation, brochures, direct mail, POS, packaging, exhibition stand/display graphics, and client liaison. Mentored by Nick Reynolds and John Sutcliffe, I learned to translate briefs into compelling visuals under tight deadlines.
Senior Designer/Creative Director at Gary Martin Associates
February 28, 1993 - October 18, 2025Senior Designer initially, promoted to Creative Director. Responsibilities included direct client liaison, all creative, copywriting, planning, costing and quoting projects, liaising with printers, and managing production. Focused on below-the-line consumer literature, exhibition graphics and related materials, with a shift toward business-to-business communications.
Senior Designer/Studio Manager/Creative Director at Greenwell & Co
September 1, 2003 - October 18, 2025Direct contact with clients/marketing departments, determining marketing strategies and brand positioning. Executed all creative and design work, including copywriting, traditional marker visuals and Mac-based output. Managed a studio, oversaw 8 staff, planned schedules, costing and quoting, and supervised printers. Worked on consumer/retail material, packaging, corporate literature, in-store promotions, and exhibition design. Led a team through full project lifecycles from brief to delivery.
Creative Director at Plum Ideas Limited
September 2, 2003 - PresentCreative Director overseeing all creative work, managing and producing projects, artwork oversight, and progression of work through the agency. Responsible for new business development and implementing design, advertising and brand-building strategies for both online and offline channels. Worked with clients including Halifax, esure, The Derbyshire, CIS, The Hanley Economic Building Society, Police Mutual, Bayer, Brita, Swish, Tate & Lyle, and many others.
Junior Art Director to Art Director/Graphic Designer at Sutcliffe/Reynolds/Fitzgerald
December 1, 1989 - December 1, 1989Concepts, design, marker visuals, type specs for typesetters, artwork preparation, photography/illustration direction, colour specs, proofs; above- and below-the-line campaigns, corporate identity and logo development, brochures, direct mail, POS, packaging, promotional gifts, exhibition stand graphics; client work included TNT, NYCOMED, Central TV and various legal and financial services.
Senior Designer to Creative Director at Gary Martin Associates Creative Consultants
February 1, 1993 - February 1, 1993Direct client liaison, copywriting, planning, costing and quoting; liaison with printers; first exposure to Apple Mac; focus on below-the-line, business-to-business literature and exhibition graphics for clients such as Central TV (CTE), RSA, DTI, British Rail and ECOTEC.
Senior Designer/Studio Manager/Creative Director at Greenwell & Co
September 1, 2003 - September 1, 2003Studio leadership (up to 8 staff), end-to-end project responsibility from brief to delivery, photography/art direction, print specifications, vendor and printer coordination, scheduling and costing; extensive below-the-line work including packaging, literature, corporate identity, POS, direct mail, press/magazine advertising and exhibition design for a wide client base (Brita, Thomas Cook, Curver, Chubb/Union/Yale, Swish, TNT, C.W. Sellors, Warwick Castle, Polycell, Dulux, FCA, MBNA, Airmiles, Travelex).
Senior Designer/Studio Manager/Creative Director at Greenwell & Co Direct
September 1, 2003 - November 5, 2025Transitioned to Direct Marketing and advertising within the Greenwell group, taking on leadership of direct marketing activities and continuing to drive creative output for a curated set of clients.
Creative Director at Plum Ideas Limited
September 1, 2003 - November 5, 2025All creative work (management and production), overseeing artwork, project progression from new business to brand-building strategy; client roster includes Halifax, esure, The Derbyshire, CIS, Hanley Economic Building Society, Police Mutual, Coors, Bayer, Brita, Swish, Goody, and many others; responsible for maintaining high-quality creative standards across on- and offline campaigns.
Art Director/Graphic Designer at Sutcliffe/Reynolds/Fitzgerald
December 1, 1985 - December 31, 1989Concepts, design and marker visuals; type specs for typesetters; oversee artwork preparation; source and direct photography and illustration; artwork colour specs; check printer proofs; early stage responsibilities included tea duties. Delivered above- and below-the-line campaigns, corporate identity/logo design, brochures, direct mail, POS, packaging, gifts, and exhibition/display graphics for clients including TNT, NYCOMED, Central TV, and various solicitors and exhibitors.
Senior Designer / Creative Director at Gary Martin Associates Creative Consultants
December 1, 1989 - February 28, 1993Direct client liaison; lead creativity including copywriting, planning, costing and quoting; liaison with printers; first hands-on use of Apple Mac; focus on below-the-line promotional literature, packaging, corporate brochures, direct mail and exhibition graphics for TV, educational and government clients.
Senior Designer / Studio Manager / Creative Director at Greenwell & Co
June 1, 1993 - September 1, 2003Direct client contact; marketing strategy and brand positioning; execution of creative and design; managed a studio of up to 8 people; photography/illustration direction; print specs, costing and proofs; scheduling and budgeting for below-the-line consumer/retail work including packaging, brochures, POS and direct mail for a broad client base.
Junior Art Director, progressed to Art Director/Graphic Designer at Sutcliffe/Reynolds/Fitzgerald
December 1, 1985 - December 1, 1989Concepts, design, slick/highly finished marker visuals, type specs for typesetters, overseeing artwork preparation, sourcing and overseeing photography and illustration, artwork colour specs, checking printers' proofs. Involved in above- and below-the-line advertising campaigns, corporate identity and logo creation, corporate and promotional brochures, direct mail, point of sale, packaging, promotional gifts, exhibition stand and display graphics. Clients included TNT, NYCOMED, Central, Brindley, Swish, Chubb, etc.
Senior Designer, Creative Director at Gary Martin Associates Creative Consultants
December 1, 1989 - February 1, 1993Direct client liaison and full creative responsibility including copywriting, planning, costing and quoting projects; liaised with printers; first experience of Apple Mac. Focused on business-to-business, below-the-line promotional/informative literature and exhibition graphics for clients in television, RSA, DTI, British Rail, ECOTEC and more.
Senior Designer/Studio Manager/Creative Director at Greenwell & Co
June 1, 1993 - September 1, 1998Direct client contact, marketing strategy, brand positioning and distinguishing client requirements. Executed all creative and design work, copywriting, visualisation using marker and Apple Mac, managed a studio (up to 8 people), commissioned photography and illustration, art direction, print specs, proofs and on-press work. Planned, scheduled, costed and quoted all projects; part of the management team.
Creative Director / Direct Marketing Lead at Greenwell & Co Direct
September 1, 1998 - September 1, 2003Joined the direct marketing arm to provide DM and advertising services after the two companies split. Managed studio operations (up to 8 staff), directed creative and production of DM campaigns, packaging, in-store materials and promotional literature for a diverse client base including Brita, Thomas Cook, Curver, Chubb, Swish, TNT, Warick Castle, MBNA, and more.
Education
O Level Qualifications at Ellowes Hall Secondary School
September 1, 1977 - August 31, 1981DATEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1981 - June 1, 1983BTEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1983 - June 1, 1985DATEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1981 - June 1, 1983BTEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1983 - June 1, 1985O Level: History at Ellowes Hall Secondary School
September 1, 1977 - August 1, 1981O Level: Maths at Ellowes Hall Secondary School
September 1, 1977 - August 1, 1981O Level: Geology at Ellowes Hall Secondary School
September 1, 1977 - August 1, 1981Primary Education at Red Hall Primary School
January 11, 2030 - November 5, 2025Junior Education at Red Hall Junior School
January 11, 2030 - November 5, 2025O-Level Qualifications at Ellowes Hall Secondary School
September 1, 1977 - August 1, 1981DATEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1981 - June 1, 1983BTEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1983 - June 1, 1985Primary Education at Red Hall Primary School
September 1, 1969 - August 31, 1973Junior Education at Red Hall Junior School
September 1, 1973 - August 31, 1977Secondary Education at Ellowes Hall Secondary School
September 1, 1977 - August 31, 1981O Level Qualifications at Ellowes Hall Secondary School
January 11, 2030 - January 7, 2026DATEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1981 - June 30, 1983BTEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1983 - June 30, 1985O-Level Qualifications: Art (A); English Literature (A); English Language (A); History (B); Maths (C); Geology (C) at Ellowes Hall Secondary School
September 1, 1977 - August 31, 1981DATEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1981 - June 30, 1983BTEC Graphic Design Diploma at Stourbridge College of Technology & Art
September 1, 1983 - June 30, 1985Red Hall Primary School at Red Hall Primary School
September 1, 1969 - August 31, 1973Red Hall Junior School at Red Hall Junior School
September 1, 1973 - August 31, 1977Qualifications
O Level Qualifications
January 11, 2030 - October 18, 2025DATEC Graphic Design Diploma
September 1, 1981 - June 1, 1983BTEC Graphic Design Diploma
September 1, 1983 - June 1, 1985O Level: Art
January 11, 2030 - August 1, 1981O Level: English Language
January 11, 2030 - August 1, 1981O Level: English Literature
January 11, 2030 - August 1, 1981O Level: History
January 11, 2030 - August 1, 1981O Level: Maths
January 11, 2030 - August 1, 1981O Level: Geology
January 11, 2030 - August 1, 1981Full UK Driving Licence
January 11, 2030 - November 5, 2025O Level Qualifications
January 11, 2030 - January 7, 2026DATEC Graphic Design Diploma
September 1, 1981 - June 30, 1983BTEC Graphic Design Diploma
September 1, 1983 - June 30, 1985O-Level Qualifications
September 1, 1977 - August 31, 1981DATEC Graphic Design Diploma
September 1, 1981 - June 30, 1983BTEC Graphic Design Diploma
September 1, 1983 - June 30, 1985Industry Experience
Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Retail, Education, Other, Government, Travel & Hospitality, Consumer Goods
Experience Level
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