My flower journey began as a little boy. I cannot remember a time when a weekly country walk would not climax with the gathering of seasonal flowers - primroses, wood anemones, bluebells, foxgloves to mention a few. I could never wait to return home and "arrange " (I use the term loosely!) them into old jugs, pots, bowls or baskets. My eleventh Birthday was a revolutionary life change with the gift of a 8 x 6ft greenhouse and the power of plants consumed me. I supplied the local shop with bedding and houseplants, saving up enough money to buy my first car! My Grandad was a huge inspiration, he taught me so much about growing and cultivating plants. Together we would enter all the local flower shows and soon I was winning enough points to be presented with the Challenge trophies. Grandad taught me the importance of perfection for the show bench and how competing can help us to strive to keep doing better. Ambition is no bad thing!

Often I am asked what my career highlights are and it is so very difficult to choose. Thankfully I have been lucky enough to work on some amazing projects for both private and corporate clients. Being the sole designer and instigator for ten flower festivals at the World renowned Chatsworth house has to figure as a definite highlight. These events were planned and undertaken with military precision.

Sharing my passion for growing and arranging flowers is of major importance and I love the theatricality of live demonstrations. I regularly perform at all the major flower shows from RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton, Chatsworth, Malvern and Cardiff, plus all the shows at the wonderful RHS gardens, to name but a few. Our own Harrogate is of course a floral mecca and I am thrilled to be the immediate past President of the North of England Horticultural Society and I still work closely with the shows to retain the important role that they have in the world of floristry. We are all so excited about this year's Autumn show being relocated to Newby Hall and this new look show will retain the best of the traditional Autumn event whilst showcasing a new family friendly experience within the iconic Newby gardens. I will be decorating the entrance to the hall with spectacular Autumn blooms and berries plus of course demonstrating each day.

Last year I was thrilled to receive an Honorary membership of The Institute of Professional Florists and I will continue to deliver the message that having flowers and plants within our lives enriches our day to day existence. Arranging flowers is achievable and attainable for all - be it a few foraged buttercups and stems of cow parsley or a bunch of home grown sweet peas, we all have the opportunity to appreciate their beauty and enhance it by adding a few artistic/creative touches. In July at our own Great Yorkshire Show I was lucky enough to be presented to their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall, we had a wonderful conversation about the flowers which I had used within a bouquet, all of which were home grown from my garden and amazingly it appeared that most of the flowers were also being grown at Highgrove.