Alan Gilliland was born in Malaya. His first schools were on a mountain top and a tropical beach before reaching these drizzly shores aged seven. Alan studied photography & film (winning the Don Quixote award at Cracow Short film festival) abd architecture. His careers included working as a steel tube cutter, a news photographer, and a cartoonist. He was graphic journalist at the Northern Echo, and graphics editor at the Daily Telegraph. He is also a freehand illustrator – architects, publishers (Penguin Group, Hachette). Alan has published own work: illustrated nonsense children's adventure and a Gothic ghost tale/historical mystery. He is currently working on an experimental play on words.