He studied at the Universities of Cambridge (Architecture and Fine Arts Tripos) and London (MA in Architecture), before returning to Leeds to study for a Part-time Postgraduate Diploma in Town Planning at Leeds Polytechnic and spending a year at the British School at Rome as a Rome Scholar in Architecture.
He worked, as an architect, in various capacities, in the employment of Leeds City Council and, thereafter, as a Senior Lecturer (in Architecture) at Leeds Polytechnic and Leeds Metropolitan University.
He is a former Chairman of Leeds Society of Architects
