There's a moon in the sky, it's called The Moon. - B52s 1979
One of the joys of writing for a living is being able to stretch your imagination and explore other creative avenues and alleyways. Over the years I've focused my imagination on a wide variety of projects.
Some, such as the "Teach Your Grown Ups About Art" tour for The National Gallery were successful, others like a free sheet advertorial written in Elizabethan English, not so.
Below are a selection of some of my most recent creative challenges.
AUDIO TOURS
Having a love of both history and art means writing these specialist audio guides to museums and art galleries is an absolute pleasure.
THE TAJ MAHAL, INDIA
One of the most famous buildings on earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, guiding visitors around this incredible mausoleum was an unforgettable experience. Recreating the history, examining the myths, explaining the architecture and re telling the tragic story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal was a definite career highlight.
THE AGRA FORT, AGRA, INDIA
Exploring the maze of chambers, courtyards and pavilions that make up this remarkable building was another wonderful challenge. From the Emperor Babur running around the battlements with a man under each arm to Shah Jahan's imprisonment by his own son, "The Red Fort" stood at the very heart of Mughal India.
THE NATIONAL CHARTER MONUMENT - BAHRAIN
An extraordinary new building that celebrates the history, culture and environment of an island which many believe was home to the legendary Garden of Eden. I was commissioned to write an adult and a family tour. Both guided visitors around the numerous exhibits whilst conveying the importance of the National Charter to the people of Bahrain.
ST AUGUSTINE'S ABBEY - ENGLISH HERITAGE
The site of the re introduction of Christianity to England in the sixth century has suffered from the vandalism of both Norman conquerors and Henry VIII. Recreating not one but two huge and powerful abbeys from the remaining foundation stones and telling their respective stories was a particularly rewarding experience. The tour even boasted an appearance from The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
www.english-heritage.org.uk www.bbc.co.uk
TEACH YOUR GROWN UPS ABOUT ART - THE NATIONAL GALLERY
The brief was to create a family audio tour to engage children aged between 7-11, stimulate their imagination and encourage dialog with their adult carers.
The "Teach Your Grown Ups about Art" tour achieves this using comedic characters, an irreverent style and a secret fact about each painting that children pass on to their amazed grown ups.
Find out more here
NOMINATED - April 09 - "Teach Your Grown Ups About Art" shortlisted for a prestigious Museums and Heritage award.
DOUNE CASTLE FAMILY TOUR - HISTORIC SCOTLAND
A fascinating exploration of this wonderful medieval castle (where much of the filming for the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" took place.)
Narrated by Terry Jones
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/
"DISEGNI E DIPINTI" - MUSEO DI SANTA GIULIA
An exciting tour for children in which they use the paintings of Vincent van Gogh to try and track down the elusive artist.
FAMILY TOUR - LEEDS CASTLE
Using a special listening device the whole family can learn more about the history of England's most visited castle from some of the servants who worked there over the centuries.
DA REMBRANDT A GAUGIN-CASTEL SISMONDO ,RIMINI
Children help a young artist called Paulo discover his inspiration as they explore a collection on loan from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
"AT HOME WITH THE GEFFRYE'S" - THE GEFFRYE MUSEUM, LONDON
In this museum of English domestic interiors, visitors meet various members of the Geffrye family and learn more about their daily life and times.
TYNEMOUTH PRIORY- ENGLISH HERITAGE
Bringing a First World War Coastal Defence Battery back to life found me channelling my "Inner Geordie" as I recreated the smoke and confusion of a live firing exercise in 1917.
DALI:SOGNO SI AVVICINA-PALAZZO REALE,MILAN
Salvador Dali and his fantastic moustache take children on a suitably surreal journey through some of his most famous works, where absolutely nothing is, as it seems (apart from his genius.)
EDWARD HOPPER-MUSEUM FONDAZIONE, ROME PALAZZO REALE, MILAN
A young cub reporter is given a tough assignment " Find out more about this guy Edward Hopper" Their journey takes them from the USA to France and finds them staring through the window of a very famous all-night diner.
ARCIMBOLDO-PALAZZO REALE, MILAN
Giuseppe Arcimboldo became famous for painting bizarre human faces made up of vegetables, fishes and even books. Children get the chance to meet some of these fantastic creations and discover more about his life and the exciting world of The Renaissance.
CITY GUIDES
Delivered digitally to visiting twenty/thirty somethings these guides to the cities of Milan and Munich cover one hundred points of historic, cultural and social interest for each city including churches, nightclubs, museums and shops.
Each stop is concise yet packed with information and written in an informal,humorous style.
Find out more here.
Buy the Milan guide from iTunes Here
Buy the Munich guide from iTunes Here
IPSWICH EVENING STAR
To coincide with a national fitness initiative The Ipswich Evening Star wanted to promote a healthy lifestyle and highlight local sport and fitness amenities. In order to write a series of lighthearted articles I took part part in various sporting activities such as aerobics, judo , under 14s cricket and jazz dancing.
With my remaining strength I became "The face of Ipswich fitness" by hosting a series of live displays and workshops before hundreds of baffled shoppers in the town center.
Find out more here.
N8TIVEMEDIA
A major Suffolk marketing agency wanted to produce a piece of promotional literature that was entertaining, informative and most importantly would introduce them to potential clients.
I took the concept of the 1970s children's, annuals I used to devour every Xmas , updated it and offered the result as an end-of year treat for weary marketing managers. I would like to think the cut out and keep cardboard design studio has become a collectors item, but I doubt it.
Find out more here
BBC COMEDY
Not that recent and it didn't make me any money but I'm proud of it none the less. I have always enjoyed comedy and have performed as a stand up at such London venues as The Comedy Café, Ha Bloody Ha and The Amused Moose.
In 2002 I won a writing competition, organized by BBC Light Entertainment and judged by among others David Croft and the late John Peel.
My entry was subsequently recorded and broadcast staring actors David Warder and Emma Kennedy