I started playing guitar aged 7, and I've been playing for 29 years. I originally trained as a classical guitarist and was getting booked for solo performances from the age of 11. I gradually moved over to electric guitar in school bands, joined a rock band as lead guitarist aged 16 and began gigging regularly. I've been gigging with rock/indie bands ever since, but I started returning back to acoustic guitar when I moved to Malvern a couple of years ago. I began teaching advanced guitar techniques when I began at university.

I think the first concert I went to was to see The Shadows at the Birmingham Odeon with my parents when I was 10. I'd been learning the Hank Marvin guitar style and wanted to see how it was done.

My favourite guitar at the moment is my new Martin DC1E which I've bought for session recording work and gigging. My main electric is my Japanese Fender Strat '62 reissue, which I bought as my first electric in the mid 80s and has developed into a sought-after vintage instrument. My other electric is a rare Jackson Soloist Archtop Professional which was a lucky second hand find which I spent my student loan on. I also have a Yamaha electro-classical and an Ozark travel guitar which is handy for camping.
Amp wise I use an Engl Powerball head into a Marshall 1960A anniversary cabinet which is very versatile and will produce sounds from crystal clean to extreme distortion.

My tastes have changed a lot of the years. Pre teens I was into Mark Knopfler and Hank Marvin, The Police, and moved onto Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Bandwise I started listening to Led Zeppelin, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Rage against the Machine. I've now gone full circle and moved onto Ray Lamontagne, Damien Rice and Newton Faulkner

Session guitarist for Tess (solo artist),
Lead guitarist in Bumblecat,
Lead guitarist in System Trap,
Guitarist in The Way,

Performed at: Salisbury Town Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Beautiful Days Festival 2012, Wulfrun Hall Wolverhampton, The Cavern Liverpool, Plymouth University, Aston University, Academy 2 & 3, Birmingham

Biggest audience, a close call between capacity crowds at Salisbury Town Hall supporting Joan Armatrading and Birmingham Symphony Hall. There may have been more at some of the festivals I've done. Smallest gig probably Katie Fitzgeralds in Stourbridge, when it used to be called the Golden Lion. Most memorable, supporting Rootjoose in Tiverton when overexcited Rootjoose fans pulled down the entire suspended ceiling during our set.