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PPH Certified
Self Certified
About Me
As a seasoned, well-versed graphics professional, I boast a vast range of traditional, new and multi-media experience from my 25 years within this industry. My extensive skill set extends right across the print and digital media circles, having seen the rise in desktop publishing through to new media development, it is my duty to maintain the highest level of expertise and constantly strive to attain the latest software disciplines to extend my position and professionalism within these industries. My work is varied, and always second-to-none in terms of quality and customer satisfaction, from logos to brochures, promoting to branding, magazines to publishing, advertising to point-of-sale, below- to above-the-line advertising, local business development to blue chip client projects and acquisitions.
Areas covered: Worldwide
Company name: Wired Freelance
Industry type: Media
Employees at your company: 1
Portfolio
Skills
PPH Certified
Self Certified
Job Reviews on PPH
Work Experience
I acquired my school work experience as a Shop Assistant at Wagons Art Supplies & Framing, Hemel Hempstead, where I learnt fundamental business practice, including the running of the shop, from trade and retail sales, monitoring and maintaining stock levels and takings, and basic VAT/book-keeping skills. This was a customer-facing role, and helped me gain confidence in my approach to liaising with clients on a day-to-day basis.
The shop expanded and moved into the main town centre a few years later, but the introduction of the internet and the dominance of the digital media age has pushed traditional skills materials into a more niche market.
Mr Wagon, a prominent and locally well known watercolour artist, sadly died 4 years ago, but I enjoyed my experience working with him.
Nov 2009 to Present
Senior Graphic Designer at Wired Freelance
Making the transition from employee to self-employed has been a steady, rocky road. It is certainly not something for the faint-hearted, but it's the best thing I ever did.
With the vast experience I have amassed in my 23 years in permanent employment, I incorporate these skills into the finest quality work money can buy.
I still have an extensive portfolio of clients whom I regularly contract for, including the L'Oréal Group (including Garnier, Kiehl's, Roger & Gallet, shu uemura, Viktor & Rolf and Lancôme), Bacardi Group, La Roche-Posay and Maybelline New York.
I enjoy all creative aspects of the job, and will endeavour to meet any and all enquiries into new, existing and ongoing work, big or small.
Please see my growing online portfolio for further samples: www.behance.net/wired
Education
1982-1987: Cavendish Secondary School and Sports College, Warners End Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
CSE Passes: European Studies (Grade B), English (Grade B), Science (Grade D), History (Grade D)
O-Level Passes: Art (Grade A), English (Grade C), Geography (Grade C)
Herts Foundation in Mathematics (Pass)
Although I sometimes regret not pursuing a further education, particularly in A-Level Art (my favourite subject), the qualifications I did acquire at the end of my secondary school education did help me acquire my first full time job; an apprenticeship working within a small graphic design studio based in Tring, Hertfordhire, way back in 1987, at the tender age of 16! From here, I would gain the valuable 'hands-on' experience I would need to further enhance my career in this area of expertise. As a result, I have never looked back since.
It was necessary to undertake a work-related course to sit alongside my position as Graphic Designer and fulfill the needs of the skillset I was quickly acquiring. The City & Guilds Certificate day-release course in Letterpress Print & Design was recommended to aid my understanding of the print industry. This included traditional plate-making processes, full understanding of the additive (CMYK) and subtractive (RGB) colour processses, new technology, photography and PMT (photo-machanical transfer) mechanics, etc. This proved to be an essential part of my training, long before the introduction of the computer into the modern world of multi-media.
Since then, I have spent many thousands of pounds in the pursuit of software perfection, to bring the best software skills to the table. I have self-trained in all the industry standard software and peripherals, particularly those supported on the Apple Macintosh platform.
CSE Passes: European Studies (Grade B), English (Grade B), Science (Grade D), History (Grade D)
O-Level Passes: Art (Grade A), English (Grade C), Geography (Grade C)
Herts Foundation in Mathematics (Pass)
Although I sometimes regret not pursuing a further education, particularly in A-Level Art (my favourite subject), the qualifications I did acquire at the end of my secondary school education did help me acquire my first full time job; an apprenticeship working within a small graphic design studio based in Tring, Hertfordhire, way back in 1987, at the tender age of 16! From here, I would gain the valuable 'hands-on' experience I would need to further enhance my career in this area of expertise. As a result, I have never looked back since.
It was necessary to undertake a work-related course to sit alongside my position as Graphic Designer and fulfill the needs of the skillset I was quickly acquiring. The City & Guilds Certificate day-release course in Letterpress Print & Design was recommended to aid my understanding of the print industry. This included traditional plate-making processes, full understanding of the additive (CMYK) and subtractive (RGB) colour processses, new technology, photography and PMT (photo-machanical transfer) mechanics, etc. This proved to be an essential part of my training, long before the introduction of the computer into the modern world of multi-media.
Since then, I have spent many thousands of pounds in the pursuit of software perfection, to bring the best software skills to the table. I have self-trained in all the industry standard software and peripherals, particularly those supported on the Apple Macintosh platform.
Jun 1987 to Jun 1989
