Who is Andy?

My name is Andy, and I’m a software engineer living in the steel city of Sheffield in the North of England. I currently work as a Technical Team Lead at Evoluted New Media.

I generally develop in PHP and JavaScript as well as producing semantic and valid HTML and CSS. I work with both Laravel and CakePHP. As well as being a developer, I have an eye for design and an interest in creating great user-interfaces and accessible websites.

I write about web development on my blog and speak at various local user-groups. Details of upcoming and past talks can be found on the Talks page of this website.

Before working full-time in the web industry I worked in Quantum Optics research as a theoretical Physicist. I graduated from the University of York with a PhD on the subject of “twisted light” and worked for a while at the University of Sheffield on the subject of polaritons.

Outside of web development I enjoy seeking out street art; I maintain the Street Art Sheffield website and occassionally run street art tours. I'm learning to play the ukulele and electric guitar. I also enjoy walking in the Peak District, reading and cooking.

My claim to fame is that I’ve appeared in an episode of Family Guy.