I was born and raised in the UK, took a degree in Photography at the London College of Printing, spent twenty years in Australia and then relocated back to Britain in 2009. People often ask why – it’s probably got something to do with the fact that, despite the lousy weather, Britain does better cheese and ale.

I’ve been a freelance travel writer since 1988, authoring guidebooks to Australia, China, Indonesia, Iceland and Hong Kong. Inbetween I helped compile a Chinese cookbook, and have written on everything from crime to horse racing, woodblock printing and history for the South China Morning Post, The Diplomat and others.

Non-travel projects have included The Mercenary Mandarin, a biography of the renowned nineteenth-century British adventurer in China, William Mesny; and Paper Horses, about Chinese woodblock printing and folk gods.

Writing is an isolated profession, involving long stretches alone with a computer. Whenever possible, it’s good to get out of the house and spend time on wildlife, Chinese martial arts and scuba diving. Preferably somewhere warm.