I was born and raised in Manchester, studied in Liverpool, and trained in journalism in London. Over several decades I worked in London for a variety of national newspapers and magazines, as a writer and subeditor, including at The Guardian (News, Business, Features, Arts); The Observer (News, Business); The Times (as a classical music critic, and in Arts, Features, News, Opinion, Obituaries); The Sunday Times (News, Business); The Times Online (night editor); The London Evening Standard (Londoner's Diary); and Classic FM Magazine (deputy editor). I also freelanced for Time Warner Books, the UN University, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, and BBC School Radio. I now live in the Lake District with my wife and two children, and run Swallow Media Services. I'm also a fiction writer and music composer, and love running up hills, cycling down dales and swimming in lakes, tarns, rivers and the sea.
'A brilliant writer, Matthew has written for us for several national publications, on the back of which we've secured additional opportunities for clients. Whether writing for the press, websites, marketing, social media or editing copy, the quality of his work is first-class.'
CAROLINE PAGE, LAKES-BASED PR AGENT AND BBC DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER
'The more people who learn how good Matthew is, the more difficult it will be for us to be blessed by his skills. He responds to tasks with graciousness, enthusiasm, competence and timeliness – and his videography, film-editing and writing skills show us he is one talented person!'
REBECCA TRUMAN, CO-FOUNDER, THE CLIMATE FOUNDATION
'Matthew has massively streamlined our podcast production workflow, editing, transcribing and uploading fortnightly episodes of The Clientside Podcast to our website and other platforms. He’s thorough, highly competent, multi-skilled, always keen and courteous, and has proved a highly dependable communicator with our podcast guests.'
ANDREW ARMITAGE, A DIGITAL, KENDAL, LAKE DISTRICT
'The attention to detail Matthew puts into each project is exceptional. He writes with
a creative flair very rarely seen.'
GARETH O'ROURKE, WE ARE DIGITAL, LAKE DISTRICT
'Matthew has been invaluably helpful in the work he's done preparing all my books for publication and beyond.'
JILL CLOUGH, LAKE DISTRICT AUTHOR
'Matthew has been invaluably helpful in the work he's done preparing all my books for publication and beyond.'
JILL CLOUGH, LAKE DISTRICT AUTHOR
'I worked with Matthew on a project commissioning him for podcast editing and podcast audio creation and he did a highly professional job with excellent attention to detail. He is very thorough in his approach and produced highly professional outcomes.'
'DR MILLI', HEALTH INFLUENCER, LANCASHIRE
"I’m very impressed with Matthew's work for me and my business".
DERRICK HULME, NEWBY BRIDGE, CUMBRIA
'A brilliant writer, Matthew has written for us for several national publications, on the back of which we've secured additional opportunities for clients. Whether writing for the press, websites, marketing, social media or editing copy, the quality of his work is first-class.'
CAROLINE PAGE, PR AGENT AND EX-BBC DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER
'The more people who learn how good Matthew is, the more difficult it will be for us to be blessed by his skills. He responds to tasks with graciousness, enthusiasm, competence and timeliness – and his videography, film-editing and writing skills show us he is one talented person!'
REBECCA TRUMAN, CO-FOUNDER, THE CLIMATE FOUNDATION
'Matthew has massively streamlined our podcast production workflow, editing, transcribing and uploading fortnightly episodes of The Clientside Podcast to our website and other platforms. He’s thorough, highly competent, multi-skilled, always keen and courteous, and has proved a highly dependable communicator with our podcast guests.'
ANDREW ARMITAGE, A DIGITAL, KENDAL, LAKE DISTRICT
'The attention to detail Matthew puts into each project is exceptional. He writes with
a creative flair very rarely seen.'
GARETH O'ROURKE, WE ARE DIGITAL, LAKE DISTRICT
'Matthew has been invaluably helpful in his work preparing my books for publication and beyond.'
JILL CLOUGH, LAKE DISTRICT AUTHOR
'I worked with Matthew on a project commissioning him for podcast editing and podcast audio creation and he did a highly professional job with excellent attention to detail. He is very thorough in his approach and produced highly professional outcomes.'
'DR MILLI', HEALTH INFLUENCER, LANCASHIRE
"I’m very impressed with Matthew's work for me and my business".
DERRICK HULME, NEWBY BRIDGE, CUMBRIA