History and Geography
- My CV -
I joined BBC Scotland as a camera assistant in 1976, aged 19. Yes, 1976.
Since then I’ve been a camera operator, senior cameraman, camera supervisor and for the last 20 odd years, a lighting camera operator/DOP.
I’ve worked on major multi-camera studio entertainment, music, comedy, drama and news and current affairs programmes as well as many outside broadcast events, sport, music etc.
Some Multi-Camera Credits:
T in the park, TRNSMT, Radio 1 Big Weekend, State Opening of Scottish Parliament – and other royal events, Children in Need, Proms in the Park, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, live concert from Moscow Conservatoire, Celtic Connections, Edinburgh International Festival events, the Gaelic Mod, Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet productions and numerous game, quiz and entertainment studio shows.
I’ve also been heavily involved in The Quay Sessions and on-line music gigs both in BBC PQ and on location as camera supervisor and lighting director. Bands include Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol, Simple Minds, Mogwai, Belle and Sebastian etc.
As a drama camera operator, I was nominated for a craft BAFTA for a single drama, Obituaries and won the Guild of TV cameramen Award of Merit for the drama series, Strathblair.
In parallel, I have spent many years as a lighting camera operator and DOP working extensively on arts, comedy, education, children’s programming and drama
Credits as Principal Lighting Camera op/DOP:
Artworks, Ex-s, Edinburgh Nights, Scene by Scene, Hollywood Greats, 10 Things, HMS Timbertown, Bho Stalag Gu Gulag, River City (DOP), The One Show, Balamory, Me Too, De-a-nis?, multiple editions of Only an Excuse, Nina and the Neurons (location lighting camera, studio LD), etc.
For over 10 years I have been a regular member of the team on Eorpa, the acclaimed BBC Alba European current affairs programme. This has taken me to more or less every country in Europe, including filming several reports from Ukraine and Crimea during the recent conflict, from Lampadusa during the height of the Mediterranean crossings by refugees from Africa, and in 2019 and 2020 from refugee camps in the Greek island of Lesbos and in Croatia, Bosnia and mainland Greece.
In 2021, as well as multi-camera work for BBC, Scottish opera and QTV, I’ve completed two series for BBC Alba Children’s as Lighting Camera operator – Uaine, a science series coinciding with the COP 26 Climate Conference – including extensive drone filming – and the art series, A Chuil.
Training and Education
I have been active in training and mentoring, with an in depth craft and technical knowledge of the art and science of TV production.
I’ve lectured for a month in China, have worked on media training courses for the M.O.D. and have run workshops at Glasgow City College and Glasgow University, where I supervised the shooting of several short films. I’ve also organised or been involved in multiple training sessions at BBC Scotland.
My work has taken me around the world, working in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia.
I left the BBC at the end of 2020, but I’m still hard at work and have a comprehensive shooting kit. (see my Equipment page.) I’m available for single and multi-camera work with or without kit. I am now CAA qualified in the A2 category and own a DJI Mavic 3 Classic and Mini 3 Pro to provide up to 4K drone footage. See some examples on YouTube at: