I struggled with talking as a kid so grandad figured maybe I could express myself through photography. He introduced me to his darkroom when I was 3. From then onwards, non verbal communication became my focus.

I left school at 16 and hitch hiked to France with the aim of joining the French Foreign Legion. I’ve since wandered through over 80 countries, documenting my experiences using a variety of means including pinhole photography, film, poetry, and prose.

In 1999 I founded the Medway art collective ‘Dilute To Taste’, and in 2002 created ‘Urban Fox Press’ with Billy Childish, which published over 50 books by Medway creatives. Billy and I also created the ‘Historical Hillwalkers’, a group for those interested in slow art, slow travel, genuine conversation, and nature. 

From 2004 to 2006 I organised the Medway Independent Arts Festival with Zara Carpenter. 

In 2008 I founded Hakim & Slater Press, which continues to this day.

I’ve worked as a sports and travel journalist, and still dabble in those fields. I enjoy running trails. I won the 24 hour Canadian running Championships a couple of times. I find that exhausting myself on a run is a good warm up to creating. It helps push the ego aside so I can get a more direct line from source to canvas. 

I began painting in 2021. These days my pinhole photographs mainly represent what I see, and my paintings what I feel. 

I like creating on my own, but enjoy collaborating the most.