I’m a WordPress and front-end developer with experience in eCommerce, SEO, and custom theme development. I enjoy turning designs into modular, maintainable components and delivering responsive, high-performance websites. Colleagues describe me as easygoing, attentive, and collaborative, and I value building positive working relationships while solving problems with a blend of analytical thinking and creativity. I am passionate about learning and continually honing my craft, including exploring React.js and other modern tools. Outside of work I play guitar, explore different parts of the UK, read about space, and spend time with friends outdoors. I’m excited by roles that challenge me to grow, learn new skills, and push the boundaries of what I can build for clients and users.

Michael Watson

I’m a WordPress and front-end developer with experience in eCommerce, SEO, and custom theme development. I enjoy turning designs into modular, maintainable components and delivering responsive, high-performance websites. Colleagues describe me as easygoing, attentive, and collaborative, and I value building positive working relationships while solving problems with a blend of analytical thinking and creativity. I am passionate about learning and continually honing my craft, including exploring React.js and other modern tools. Outside of work I play guitar, explore different parts of the UK, read about space, and spend time with friends outdoors. I’m excited by roles that challenge me to grow, learn new skills, and push the boundaries of what I can build for clients and users.

Available to hire

I’m a WordPress and front-end developer with experience in eCommerce, SEO, and custom theme development. I enjoy turning designs into modular, maintainable components and delivering responsive, high-performance websites. Colleagues describe me as easygoing, attentive, and collaborative, and I value building positive working relationships while solving problems with a blend of analytical thinking and creativity. I am passionate about learning and continually honing my craft, including exploring React.js and other modern tools.

Outside of work I play guitar, explore different parts of the UK, read about space, and spend time with friends outdoors. I’m excited by roles that challenge me to grow, learn new skills, and push the boundaries of what I can build for clients and users.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Craft CMS Developer at Burn the book
July 1, 2025 - October 15, 2025
Skilled in Craft CMS development using Twig templating, SCSS, JavaScript, GSAP, Node.js, and Git. Receive designs via Adobe XD or Figma and translate them into modular, maintainable, and context-aware components—accounting for variations such as alternating background colors and consistent spacing. Emphasize adherence to style guides, lean SCSS usage, and responsive design principles to ensure optimal performance across devices. Maintain clear workflow documentation by logging progress in Jira and accurately tracking time per task.
WordPress Developer at Freelance
January 1, 2025 - October 15, 2025
Experienced with WordPress development using ACF and CPTUI, integrating PHP and Twig templating. Proficient in front-end technologies including Vue.js, SCSS, Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap, GSAP, and SVG animations. Skilled in responsive design, performance optimization, and website maintenance. Familiar with design tools such as Figma and Photoshop. Also experienced with Node.js, Git version control, and SEO best practices.
Front End Developer at FONK
December 1, 2022 - October 15, 2025
Developed custom WordPress websites using PHP, SASS, Bootstrap, Tailwind, Gulp, Git, and various NPM packages. Built and maintained scalable, custom-themed WordPress eCommerce platforms. Worked on web applications requiring bespoke functionality, with a focus on usability, UX, and user flow. Performed SEO tasks aimed at improving performance, on-page optimization, and overall search visibility.
WordPress / Web / PPC at DigiWorks
June 1, 2017 - October 15, 2025
Managed an eCommerce store with a catalog of over 1,000 products, handling large-scale tasks such as bulk image renaming, watermarking, and resizing using Photoshop automation and additional tooling. Leveraged WordPress and WooCommerce alongside the WP All Import plugin to efficiently import products and images via CSV. Utilized Excel to generate dynamic image filenames tied to product titles through custom formulas, streamlining the bulk import process. Took charge of optimizing Google AdWords campaigns—reducing wasted ad spend and improving ROI by closely monitoring and adjusting key performance metrics.
Web Developer at Modern Web Presence
February 1, 2020 - October 15, 2025
Maintained and updated Drupal websites, ensuring they remained secure, responsive, and aligned with modern performance standards. Developed low-budget WordPress eCommerce sites using WooCommerce, focusing on delivering functional and visually engaging experiences within tight constraints. Utilized HTML5, CSS3, PHP, and JavaScript to build custom features, implement responsive layouts, and create smooth animations that enhanced user interaction. Regularly applied on-site SEO practices—semantic markup, performance tuning, and metadata optimization—to improve search visibility and site rankings.
WordPress Developer at WOW WOW
February 1, 2019 - October 15, 2025
Developed custom WordPress themes with a focus on performance, maintainability, and responsiveness, leveraging HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and PHP. Managed hosting environments through WP Engine, ensuring reliable deployment and site optimization. Integrated and configured a range of plugins—including WooCommerce—based on project requirements, while customizing functionality where needed. Built mobile-first, responsive layouts and implemented subtle animations to enhance UX without sacrificing performance. Delivered on-page SEO implementations, from semantic markup to metadata and speed optimization, and created high-converting landing pages tailored for user intent. Additionally provided SEO training to clients, managed Google AdWords campaigns, and utilized tools to monitor and improve site visibility and engagement.
Web Developer at Vivant
March 1, 2017 - October 15, 2025
Responsibilities included custom WordPress theme development using PHP, HTML, and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), with emphasis on responsive design and ongoing site maintenance. Tasks included image optimization, installing and customizing demo themes to align with branding, and performing ad hoc graphic design for web assets. I also created seasonal HTML email footers. A key achievement was developing a high-detail website for a large brick manufacturer using Drupal to meet client specs, with performance optimization via PageSpeed, lazy loading, image compression, and CDN.
Web / SEO / PPC / Design Assistant at Edge Multimedia
September 1, 2016 - October 15, 2025
Involved in Drupal web development with a focus on responsive, user-friendly interfaces. Contributed to on-site SEO, optimizing content structure, metadata, and page performance. Regularly handled graphic design tasks, including photo editing and manipulation using Photoshop to enhance assets. Managed ongoing content updates and ad hoc requests related to content entry, formatting, and layout adjustments, ensuring brand consistency and standards.
Craft CMS Developer at Burn the book
July 20, 2025 - July 20, 2025
Craft CMS development using Twig templating, SCSS, JavaScript, GSAP, Node.js, and Git. Translate designs from Adobe XD or Figma into modular, maintainable components and ensure consistent spacing and alternating backgrounds. Adhere to style guides, lean SCSS usage, and responsive design to optimize performance across devices. Document workflow in Jira and track time per task to maintain clear project visibility.
WordPress Developer at Freelance, London
January 20, 2025 - January 20, 2025
WordPress development using ACF and CPTUI, integrating PHP and Twig templating. Proficient in front-end technologies including Vue.js, SCSS, Tailwind CSS, Bootstrap, GSAP, and SVG animations. Skilled in responsive design, performance optimization, and website maintenance. Familiar with Figma and Photoshop. Also experienced with Node.js, Git, and SEO best practices.
Frontend Developer at FONK
December 20, 2022 - December 20, 2022
Developed custom WordPress websites using PHP, SASS, Bootstrap, Tailwind, Gulp, Git, and various NPM packages. Built and maintained scalable, custom-themed WordPress eCommerce platforms with a focus on usability, UX, and user flows. Performed SEO tasks to improve performance, on-page optimization, and search visibility. Also contributed to Craft CMS projects, specializing in front-end implementation. Managed ad hoc maintenance, site rebuilds, and SEO-conscious migrations for pre-existing websites.
Web Developer at Modern Web Presence
February 20, 2020 - February 20, 2020
Maintained and updated Drupal websites, ensuring security, responsiveness, and performance. Developed low-budget WordPress eCommerce sites using WooCommerce within tight constraints. Used HTML5, CSS3, PHP, and JavaScript to build custom features, implement responsive layouts, and create smooth animations. Applied on-site SEO best practices—semantic markup, performance tuning, and metadata optimization—to improve visibility and rankings. Emphasized clean, maintainable code and user-friendly interfaces across projects.
WordPress Developer at WOW W
February 20, 2019 - February 20, 2019
Developed custom WordPress themes with a focus on performance, maintainability, and responsiveness, leveraging HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and PHP. Managed hosting through WP Engine; configured plugins including WooCommerce; customized functionality as needed. Built mobile-first, responsive layouts with subtle animations to enhance UX while maintaining performance. Delivered on-page SEO, metadata and speed optimization; created high-converting landing pages. Also provided SEO training to clients, managed Google AdWords campaigns, and used free tools to monitor visibility and engagement.
WordPress / Web / PPC at DigiWorks
June 20, 2017 - June 20, 2017
Managed an eCommerce store with a catalog of over 1,000 products, handling bulk image renaming, watermarking, and resizing using Photoshop automation and additional tooling. Leveraged WordPress and WooCommerce alongside the WP All Import plugin to efficiently import products and images via CSV. Utilized Excel to generate dynamic image filenames tied to product titles through custom formulas, streamlining the bulk import process. Took charge of optimizing Google AdWords campaigns—reducing wasted ad spend and improving ROI. While the role focused on eCommerce operations, it informed my desire to return to a development-focused position.
Web Developer at Vivant
March 20, 2017 - March 20, 2017
Responsibilities included custom WordPress theme development using PHP, HTML, and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), with a strong emphasis on responsive design and ongoing site maintenance. Tasks included image optimization, installing and customizing demo themes to align with clients’ branding, and ad hoc graphic design for web assets. Created seasonal HTML email footers for internal team use. Key achievement: developed a high-detail website for a large brick manufacturer using Drupal, with performance optimization via PageSpeed Insights, lazy loading, image compression, and CDN delivery.
Web / SEO / PPC / Design Assistant at Edge Multimedia
September 20, 2016 - September 20, 2016
Involved in Drupal web development with a focus on building responsive, user-friendly interfaces. Contributed to on-site SEO implementation, optimizing content structure, metadata, and page performance. Regular graphic design tasks, including photo editing with Photoshop, and managed ongoing content updates and layout adjustments—ensuring brand consistency and industry standards.

Education

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Qualifications

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Industry Experience

Software & Internet, Professional Services, Media & Entertainment, Retail

Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
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