Curriculum Vitae

Sutton Coldfield College of Further Education, West Midlands (1985 – 1987)

B/TEC National Diploma in Graphic Design (Merit)

Paget Secondary School, Erdington, Birmingham (1981 – 1985)

'O' levels: English Language; English Literature; Chemistry; Art; Graphic Design; Craft, Design & Technology

Steve Price. Creative Director, etc. 

January 2019 – present

Owner-operator developing effective brand strategies and compelling marketing campaigns that reveal true purpose and clear direction.

Notable achievements:

• Getting the previously stuttering SIS Pitches rebrand over the line convincing senior leadership, internal teams and an incumbent brand agency to buy into a unifying theme.

• Building a fruitful relationship with boutique brand agency, Office of Omar, where I show up on an occasional basis delivering intense creative 'sprints' to great effect for both parties.

Creative & Strategic Partner

BTV, 10 Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2JB

August 2020 – present

Ongoing creative support and mentoring as part of a collective helping to grow BTV into a major player in the film and video production sector.

Notable achievements:

• Doing just that. In less than five years, BTV is an established name working on the global stage;

• Securing regular work with national and international brands like FOX Sports, Subaru and E.ON.

Creative Director

M3.agency, James House, Newport Road, Shropshire WV7 3FA

November 2021 — December 2022

Curating the creative output of this long-standing marketing and communications agency. Focused on expanding the TV and video content offer, growing capabilities in digital and increased collaboration.

Notable achievements:

• Pitching for and winning a national TV campaign for West Midlands Safari Park;

• Pitching for and winning a place on the agency roster for Mazak UK;

• Creating a relevant and different brand positioning for the agency;

• Nurturing, championing and breeding confidence into a previously much maligned art director, ultimately handing the reins of creative directorship to them upon my departure. 

Creative Director

Superdream, The Courtyard, Bromsgrove and Manning Street, South Brisbane, Queensland

August 2016 — November 2018

Curator and arbiter-in-chief of creative output for this full-service communications agency with offices in Bromsgrove, UK and Brisbane, Australia.

Notable achievements:

• Managing a creative department with teams on opposite sides of the world;

• Working hard to try and gain a reputation for creativity where previously there was little;

• Getting large, dictatorial, legacy clients back on track;

• Being part of a new business team with a prodigious hit rate during my tenure. 

Chief Creative Officer

Bareface, 319 Zellig, The Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AT

December 2015 — July 2016

A senior creative role at this energetic agency with digital excellence at its heart. Helping a young, eager team to continue growth and generate brilliant go-anywhere ideas.

Notable achievements:

• Delivering a novel creative campaign for challenging client, The Haemorrhoid Centre. Confronting a sensitive issue, informing people that help is at hand and – most importantly – convincing them to take action, resulting in a huge uplift in leads;

• Repositioning Bareface as The Modern Advertising Agency. A meeting of minds across an expanse of diverse disciplines. A collision of art and science. New brand narrative to enhance business development initiatives.

Partner and Co-owner

One Black Bear, 49 George Street, Birmingham B3 1QA

October 2003 — October 2015

Creating a successful agency from nothing with two colleagues from my previous employment. Through good times and, during the 2008 crash, some of the most challenging trading conditions.

Notable achievements:

• Running a successful pitch against London-based and local, notable competition to win the contract to be Subaru UK’s retained UK digital agency. Sitting on a roster of quality outfits including Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy and Elvis Communications;

• Winning, designing and project managing sizable web builds for VisitBirmingham.com and BusinessBirmingham.com. For a time, we were Marketing Birmingham’s digital agency of note – being parachuted in to solve problems other, more sizable agencies simply couldn’t.

• Taking on, and ultimately failing in, a business development role. Learning harsh but valuable lessons about that critical agency mechanism and the role creativity has to play in the relentless quest for new business.

Artworker, Studio Manager, Graphic Designer, Head of Design and occasional Art Director

Wallis Tomlinson, 36-37 Cox Street, Birmingham B3

March 1993 – October 2003

Initially setting up a Mac-based studio facility to save buying this resource in. Progressing to Head of Design in 2000 and becoming more client-facing, taking briefs and presenting creative work.

Notable achievements:

• Being a key part of a hard-working, award-winning culture envied by many;

• Playing an active role in the game-changing Bryant Homes pitch win;

• Designing the OG Rightmove logo;

• Helping to launch the now iconic Subaru Impreza into the UK.

Artworker, Designer and occasional Art Director

Alliance International, Centre Court, Hall Green, Birmingham B28

1992 – 1993

Junior Finished Artist, Tea Boy and occasional Graphic Designer

Hurlston Design Group, 117 Griffins Brook Lane, Birmingham B30

1987 – 1991