I left college in 1981, and with the help of a designer colleague, got 2 book commissions from Faber and Faber, then started the traditional slog around London with my folio.

Over the next couple of years, I got a slow trickle of work - not enough to live on - all done at a tiny table in the corner of my depressing room next to the bed near the leaky rotten doors out to the back.

I put my occasional cheques in the Building Society, crossed my fingers and hoped the the DHSS would never find out.

In 1983, I landed a children’s book cover with 37 inside illustrations, done mostly at a larger desk in another depressing bedroom facing onto the South Circular. But a significant fee allowed me to take advantage of a Government Business Support Scheme, and rent a studio space.

I was a real illustrator now.

In the 1980s and 1990s, everyone wanted illustration. The phone never stopped ringing. Suddenly I was doing work for big name clients. Posters for the BBC, National Press advertising commissioned at 5pm done overnight which needed to be at the other end of the country the following morning. Pre-internet, this meant sending work by British Rail Red Star at 5am. A London Design Group setting up an office in Canada asking me to pop over to Toronto to work on melba toast packaging with 2 days’ notice. Being headhunted by agents in Europe. Going to Paris for client briefings. Working in exchange for a Mediterranean cruise. An art director suggesting he’d bike over a bottle of my favourite single malt if I sent him my preliminary sketch by return. One illustrator I know used to sub-contract some of her commissions to her husband, she was so busy. Clients had no idea.

It was all normal and it was all mad. 

2009: Shortlisted for Artist in Residence at Brockwell Lido Heritage Education programme

2008: Shortlisted for Artist in Residence, Age-Exchange, Lewisham – Reminiscence project

2008: ‘The Big Draw’ – project with Ivydale Primary School, South London

1998: Plymouth University, Exeter, BA illustration, visiting lecturer

1996: Bournemouth and Poole college, visiting lecturer

1995: Illustrator in residence, European Illustration Collection, Hull

1994: Brighton University, BA illustration, visiting lecturer

1992: KIAD, Maidstone, BA illustration, visiting lecturer

1991: Leicester College, BA illustration, visiting lecturer

1989: Central School of Art, BA illustration & adult education, visiting lecturer

1985: Thurrock, HND illustration, visiting lecturer

1997-1998: Treasurer of The Association of Illustrators (AOI) 

1996-1998: Served on Management Council of the AOI

1994-1998: Regular Chair for seminars and speaker on professional practice for the AOI

1993-1996: Served on AOI Ethics Committee