I was born in Wakefield by mistake. I’m really from Belfast. Growing up there in the 70s and 80s was interesting. 

Seeing what was outside my front door portrayed in newspapers and magazines was initially normal, and then as I got a bit older I realized it wasn’t normal at all. But seeing my normality depicted as a war zone had quite an influence on me. Yes, there were a few scary times but there were really only a few. It was mundane to me to see fully armed combat soldiers on the streets every day. 

I did a degree in Philosophy and that combined with my upbringing led to two things, a fascination with storytelling and always asking questions. 

After long stints in New York and India I came to London wanting to be Don McCullin. At PA and Reuters doing dailies I realized that wasn’t going to happen. It was then I got into doing long-form photo stories of my own, where I could completely immerse myself in what I was doing. My project All Things Must Pass about a block of flats in east London was an early one, and it changed everything for me. 

The success of that led me to work for all the weekend magazines doing the kind of people stories that I have never stopped. 

I’ve been lucky enough to shoot all over the world. I shot individual portraits of all the Rolling Stones and everyone who was alive at the time who had scored a goal in a FIFA World Cup Final. I’ve written books and made films. 

I’m as happy shooting Keith Richards in a New York loft as I am shooting kids on an east end estate. It’s people and their stories that will always interest me.

Work

• 2024 - Published the book, An Uncivil War, described as "Brilliant and important," by Alastair Campbell.

• 2021 - Directs acclaimed documentary, Blitzed; The 80's Blitz Kids Story, for Sky Arts.

• 2017 - Shoots portrait of Leonard Cohen for the

cover of Book of Longing, Ecco / HarperCollins.

• 2017 - Publishes, Goal! the official FIFA book for the Russian World Cup Finals.

• 2012 - Appearance on The Southbank Show with Melvyn Bragg talking about my portraits of Ronnie Wood.

• 2010 - Shoots exclusive portraits of all the individual Rolling Stones for the film, Stones in Exile, directed by Stephen Kijak.

• 2010 - Co-directs the film, I Scored a Goal in the FIFA World Cup Final, broadcast worldwide on ESPN. Nominated for an Emmy.

• 2001-Present - Portrait and features photographer.

Published in every national weekend magazine including covers for The Guardian Weekend Magazine , and the Sunday Times Magazine.

• 1991- 2001 - Freelance press photographer working for Reuters and the Press Association.

Exhibitions

• 2026 - Exhibition, Keith Richards, Lucy Bell Gallery, St Leonards on Sea

• 2024 - Exhibition, An Uncivil War, Sheffield Documentary Film Festival.

• 2022 - Exhibition, The Beatles Bungalow. Saltaire UNESCO World Heritage site.

• 2022- Exhibition, The Beatles Bungalow, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Belfast.

• 2017 - The book Goal! is nominated for Illustrated Sports Book of the Year.

• 2016 - Exhibition. All Things Must Pass. Waterfront Hall. Belfast

• 2015 - Exhibition with Rolling Stone, Ronnie Wood, Bruton Street Gallery, Mayfair.

• 2012. - Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, The National Portrait Gallery, London.

• 2010 - Winner PX Portrait Prize Paris.

• 2008. - Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, The National Portrait Gallery, London.

• - 2004 - 3rd Place, Professional: Editorial (Photo Essay), International Photography Awards, New York, presented at the Lucie Awards.

• 2005 - Winner. One Eyeland Awards.

• 2002 - John Kobal Portrait Award. National Portrait Gallery