He studied at Edinburgh College of Art and completed his post-graduate studies at Newcastle Polytechnic in 1991. From 1987 to 1996 he worked mainly as an illustrator producing drawings, paintings and portraits for The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Telegraph, The Independant, Scholastic press USA, and many others. During this period he also taught illustration, drawing and printmaking at The University of Northumbria, and was a visiting lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, Edinburgh College of Art and Hull School of Art.