Your first stop for Lighting design and operating

After leaving school in 1986 I got a full electrical apprenticeship working on all types and sizes of installations. In late 1989 I qualifed as an electrician with my City and Guilds, in 1990 I joined the BBC as a Production Electrician. I have kept up to date with my electrical qualifications, in 2008 I got my 17th edition IEE regulations, I aslo have a Portable Appliance Testing certificate (PAT).

As a production electrician I gained my insight into the amazing feel, emotion and looks a show can take on with the medium of lighting. Also the safety aspects of lighting, how it can be rigged, time require to rig and how to keep the quality of the show high whilst staying within budget.
I became a Lighting Vision Operator (racks), with much of my time given to operating automated lights (ALO), on shows such as Live and Kicking, Saturday Show, Top of the Pops, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Sports Personality of the Year, Distractions as well as many others.

I took on the Lighting Vision Supervisor role and carried on with my high level ALO work too. I got an attachment to Lighting Director and begin Lighting shows and in 2007 was made substantive in the role.

I think my years of experience of operating and working on L.E. Drama, Chat and sport presentation shows in all the roles of lighting has given me a great grounding and knowledge base.
I have now left the BBC and am pursuing a freelance career as a Lighting Director.