Hobbies

Graphic Design

I started using Macs to design play programmes and posters in about 1989, when I started getting involved in school drama (see below). Then I was using just a Mac 512k and a Laserwriter Plus. I was using the computer to make up various pages which I then printed out and stuck up with other copy for the printers to photograph.

As computers became more powerful and DTP took off, I moved to producing programmes entirely on disk in 1993. For this reason and others, I bought myself a Mac Classic II and a Stylewriter II. I have upgraded as and when I got the money and I have had an Apple LC 630 (40 MHz 68030), a Umax Apus 2000 (160MHz PowerPC), a Blueberry iBook (300 MHz G3), a Powerbook (titanium) (400 MHz G4).

I am currently using a Powerbook (aluminium) (1.25 GHz G4), with an external LaCie 160 GB HDD. I also have, but very rarely use, a scanner and printer, as photos are now acquired directly from my Sony DSC S70 digital camera. At home I have an airport base station and a Netgear ADSL modem/router linked to Demon broadband for wireless broadband access around the house.

Web Design

I started designing for the web in 1997 using an earlier version of this website. Since then I have produced a few websites for enterprises I have been involved in, including Double Edge Drama, my aunt's furniture company Page Lacquer Company Limited and my current project for the last few years, the Smirnoff Underbelly.

Play Posters & Programmes

Since starting I have produced about 8 posters and flier designs and about 15 programme designs, ranging from folded A4 sheets for low budget productions, to 24 page colour brochures for a theatre company doing three musicals at the Edinburgh Festival. Most of the time, I have been working for my own productions and not for profit, however, I have accepted £50 for one design and two free tickets (about £10 each) for another. Since moving onto web design I have not done any print graphic design since 1995.

Drama

This is a list of the various plays I have been involved in. Most of these I was producing, but some I had just a passing involvement in. Selecting any of them will tell you a bit about the production and my involvement.

Sailing

I learnt to sail in Cornwall in a St. Mawes Mark II dinghy when I was seven. Since then I have sailed mirrors, 420's and lasers. I own an aging laser which I race at Frensham Pond Sailing Club. I sailed 420's at school, both for the school team and also individually in the Schools Championship and in the Nationals. In my 420 sailing I owed a great deal to my crew George Nurton, who I beleive is now finding success in a 470.