Welcome...

Making random things has always been in my nature, from various Heath Robinson-type machines in my youth to lab mash-ups at university. My parents owned a BBC Model B, and I spent my Saturdays typing in lines of code to make my own games.

Skip forward a few years where I dabbled in ticket fraud analysis, learned to fly, and qualified as a maths teacher. I later went on to teach physics, science and art, using zombie movies and race cars, and then ended up in my spiritual home, operating the lasers at Pimoroni. This opened me up to a whole new world of tinkering, and before I knew it I was attending maker events, and meeting a wonderful bunch of people.

The Raspberry Pi has enabled me to bring a whole new dimension to my silly inventions, and the sheer knowledge and friendship the community shares is inspiring.

I’ve been lucky to be given the opportunity to pass on my enthusiasm for physical computing, and I regularly get to spread the joy that is automating your art. Kids make tickle machines, they drive remote control cars they’ve programmed, they make disco machines. The Raspberry Pi enables that kind of inspiring interaction, even from the first blinking LED, that a glossy GUI never can. The feeling of “I made this” is such a kick.

On the way, I’ve picked up Python, got better at soldering, and been able to make all sorts of ridiculous objects, mostly made of cardboard. In fact, I’m off to give some workshops in a field while wearing my “big fish little fish” rave sleeve. See ya!