He was born in Wolverhampton, England, and attended the University of Birmingham where he received a degree in Ancient History and Archaeology. He excavated at sites in the UK, and headed the archaeology unit at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Shropshire. Thereafter, he worked as an editor for UK publishing companies before becoming a full-time author. His informational books for children cover a range of subjects, with a particular emphasis on ancient civilizations. He lives in Cheshire, north-west England.