I think street photography has always been in my DNA, even from my days at school. For me it’s all about the fun and the playfulness – even the mischief – of creating images which make people smile. Maybe I was a comedian in a previous life.

My Dad’s pal, legendary local press photographer, Tommy Ball, was often round at our house with his Rolleiflex round his neck. And my great art teacher (thank you, Mr Freear) really inspired me to persevere with photography and I think he convinced me that the kid with the camera round his neck would be cool and more attractive to girls (not sure about that one). And so a passion was born.

At the age of 15 my first published press image was of a dead dog in a litter bin.

I’ve always been a passionate street photographer and I guess my interest derives from pounding the streets of London, draped with cameras, as a news photographer. I founded my workshop business to bring together this passion for street photography with a love of teaching – something I only discovered I was good at later in life.

I’m passionate about my street photography workshop business, StreetSnappers, which I founded in 2015 to provide focused street photography education and inspiration. I run around 70 workshops every year.

Another passion is Italy - and specifically Venice. I’ve been visiting this fine city for many years and have got to know it intimately.

I’m what you might call an ‘observational’ street photographer. I enjoy finding the ‘unusual in the usual’ and recording the absurdities of 21st century life.

I admire the work of street photographers such as Joel Meyerowitz, Gary Winogrand, Elliott Erwitt, William Klein, Daido Moriyama and Alex Webb; I also appreciate the work of the aestheticists such as Saul Leiter and Ernst Haas - or social documentarians like Martin Parr, Helen Levitt and Sergio Larrain. Each brings a rich diversity of style and approach to this wonderful genre of photography. But it’s not only the ‘greats’ who matter: I get as much satisfaction out of seeing my workshop students develop over the months and years – sometimes progressing from complete beginner to highly accomplished street photographer. There’s no greater reward for a teacher.

As well as running group and one-to-one street photography workshops across the UK and in Europe, I lecture about it and I write books. My five published street photography manuals are:

• Mastering Street Photography (Ammonite Press, 2016)

• 52 Assignments: Street Photography (Ammonite Press, 2020)

• 52 Assignments: Black & White Photography (Ammonite Press, 2021)

• Street Photography Workshop (Ammonite Press, 2023)

• Street Photography Pocket Guide (Rocky Nook, 2023)

• 52 Assignments: Portrait Photography (Ammonite Press, 2023)

Keeping it in the family, my little business has great support from my wife, Johannah, who runs our booking system and handles all the admin. And she keeps me motivated with a legendary Victoria sponge. Alex, our son, has also been closely involved in the business for the past six years and is a constant source of bright ideas.

I still shoot commercial assignments for editorial and corporate clients and you can see by corporate website here.

I am represented by Saatchi Art where my prints are on sale worldwide.