It's all about people
Research is as diverse as the people who conduct it. The selected films below vary greatly in themes but are united by a deep respect of the subject matter and a desire to reveal the humanity, creativity and passion underpinning health and research in all its forms. Inspired by the documentary greats, Albert Maysles and John Grierson, my approach to filmmaking is grounded in the desire to authentically document people - to tell their story.

Showreel

Paddy Hartley's 'Hex on Thou Zee' Social Videos
Think you know ceramics? Working closely with renowned artist, Paddy Hartley, together we created a series of social first videos to highlight his incredible work, inspired by the war in Ukraine. In them, viewers have the rare opportunity to see the entire creation and building process Paddy utilises to create his shocking, beautiful work. 

​paddyhartley.com

Nell's Breast Cancer Story: The Edge of Life
Probably my favourite type of film to make. Working with Nell Bhadresha and Barts Charity, we made this short film about Nell’s remarkable experience of surviving an aggressive form of breast cancer. Barts initially reached out to me through a former colleague who knew my love of emotional storytelling. But before any filming could be done I had to meet Nell - and I can’t emphasise how important that meeting was - really listening to Nell was paramount as we tentatively explored whether there was creative chemistry, a sense of real understanding of her journey and what visual opportunities might arise as a consequence. Ultimately, we all worked together to make a film that sensitively shares Nell’s journey while aiming to inspire and give hope to those who may find themselves currently being treated for breast cancer.

Mindscapes - a global, artistic reflection on mental wellbeing
Mindscapes is the name for Wellcome's incredible international cultural programme transforming how we perceive, discuss and relate to mental health and wellbeing.

Spanning the world, Mindscapes has engaged a diverse group of artists who are reflecting on and interpreting mental health in their own unique ways. And what they are doing is beautiful, moving and inspiring.

Together, I worked with Wellcome to help produce and then edit this truly international series of films, all shot by local filmmakers. 

CEPI's 100 Days Mission
This video was created for CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, just as the world was becoming aware of the omicron variant of COVID-19.

Films of this nature aspire to capture the imagination as well as the attention of the viewer. To use an impactful, tailored visual shorthand that connects with the public, scientists and potential investors and shows them hope. That encapsulates an inspirational message that - together - as a united species, no goal is beyond humanity's grasp.

Paddy Hartley and The Cost of Life Exhibition
Created for the pharmaceutical giant, Hoffman-La Roche, this is a series of films (10 in total) detailing the work of artist, Paddy Hartley.

Paddy and project lead, Jonathan Steffen, approached me after Paddy was commissioned by Roche to create a series of artworks inspired by the theme of their 125th Anniversary - The Cost of Life.

Together, myself, Paddy and Jonathan Steffen collaborated to make a series of films highlighting the creative process; detailing the remarkable technical and creative skills and thinking of one of Britain's finest artists.
From the initial phone call to the final edit, you knew exactly what was wanted at every stage of the creative process, and you delivered a beautiful and compelling set of films that conveyed their complex and challenging subject-matter with effortless ease. Artistry, industry and modesty in rare combination! Jonathan Steffen

CEPI - Turning the tide against pandemics
This short, impactful video was made with CEPI, The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, as a key component of the next phase of their communications strategy.

The central aim is to highlight their bold, new plan to help humanity fight the current pandemic while also preparing for all future threats presented by infectious diseases.

Throughout the video, I've played with the notions of macro and micro - it takes global thinking to solve microscopic problems.

SOUNDWALK
This film was created as part of Wellcome's Mindscapes series, 'a cultural exploration of social, emotional and mental wellbeing in Bengaluru, Berlin, New York and Tokyo.'

Highlighting the power of music and open spaces in the role of maintaining mental wellbeing, SOUNDWALK is a fascinating public art project, based in Central Park, from composer and sound designer, Ellen Reid and collaborators.

Making this film was a real highlight of a challenging 2020. I edited this international collaboration which was co-produced by Rebecca Jacobs and filmed by Meerkat Media in New York.

The World's first drug for traumatic brain injury
Made for The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, this short doc was a wonderful opportunity to share the results of a groundbreaking clinical trial, CRASH-3, while featuring the sculptor, Pam Foley.

Films like this are incredibly satisfying to make and work perfectly with my passion to connect peoples' lives with science through visual storytelling.

Pam's Story (recovering from traumatic brain injury)
This short documentary, made for The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, is a companion piece to the film above – an opportunity to find out more about the accident Pam experienced that led to her brain injury and, tragically, loss of 'her imagination'.

This film was a joy to shoot and edit. Pam was a wonderful, warm interviewee while her studio and the art therein provided a fantastic opportunity to play with visual metaphors.

Sybille Neumeyer, a narrative cartography of virus
Filmed on location in Berlin, I had the pleasure of working with the extraordinary artist, Sybille Neumeyer, as she developed her new walking exhibit.

The challenge here was to visually capture and represent Sybille's internal processes and approach to researching this remarkable project, part of Wellcome's Contagious Cities program exploring our relationship with disease across time and space.

Simon Faithfull - exploring our relationship with animals
Filmed on location in Berlin's magnificent Museum für Naturkunde, this short explores artist, Simon Faithfull's latest exhibition, An Arbitrary Taxonomy of Birds.

Part of Wellcome's Contagious Cities project exploring disease and its movement across the planet, the challenge here was to work with Simon to capture his vision whilst affording insights into his method and artistic practise.

Filmmaker, Barry J Gibb
Editor, Daryl Hopkins.

Harnessing the immune system to treat disease
'I am still in awe at the marvel of how the mouse functions.’ 

Made for Wellcome and featuring Professor Caetano Reis e Sousa and his team at the amazing Francis Crick Institute. Their research uses mice to look at how the mammalian immune system detects and responds to infection.

His research has the potential to deliver human treatments and vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases in the future. 

A pillcam that could replace endoscopies and treat disease
This short for Wellcome shows us how ‘Sonopill’ could revolutionise the way gastro-intestinal diseases like cancer and Crohn’s disease are diagnosed and treated. 

It’s one of the studies currently taking place at the Wellcome Critical Care Laboratory for Large Animals in Edinburgh. 

Director Eddie Clutton explains how the technology works, and why pigs are vital for this research. The aim is that the pill can ultimately be used to treat patients.

One of a series of four films exploring animal use in research - to read more about these films, here's a short article I wrote on LinkedIn.

Unravelling how the brain works
In this short film for Wellcome, we visit the University of Oxford's primate research facility to speak to Anna Mitchell, Senior Wellcome Research Fellow, about her work to unravel some of the complex mysteries of the brain.

Her team are looking at how Old World rhesus macaques learn new information and use this to make decisions. 

The research could lead to better treatment and care for people with mental health problems or who’ve experienced a debilitating stroke.

Sitting with the monkey while he did the experiment was extraordinary - a true filmmaking highlight.

A deeper understanding of how tuberculosis develops
Featuring the amazing zebrafish, this is one of four films commissioned by Wellcome to celebrate researchers whilst fully acknowledging the vital role that animals are playing in the pursuit of improved human and animal health.

This was an exciting brief. As a former scientist myself, I knew how challenging the topic of using animals within a research environment could be. The brief was to focus on the research, including all facets of how animals are both cared for and utilised within the context of breakthroughs that have the potential to transform human - and animal - health.

To read more about these films, here's a short article I wrote on LinkedIn.

10 Amazing Ideas...
Commissioned by Wellcome Trust, this is one of 10 microdocs I made to highlight the extraordinary range of science they support.

For each film, the idea was to move beyond traditional, lab-based science filmmaking and capture a sense of the people - and cities - behind the research. At just one minute long, these films performed well on social channels.

New York: how the past prepared us for the future of disease
Commissioned by Wellcome Trust as part of their Contagious Cities project, this film was a rare opportunity to explore New York's rich history of disease, with an eye to the future and epidemic preparedness.

Rooted in the stories of former residents of New York's remarkable Tenement Museum who had TB, influenza or HIV, the film examines these past lives and how their loss has informed modern health policies that could help avert future epidemics.

Screened as part of the Germ City exhibition, Museum of the City of New York, 2018.

Click here to read about how this film was made.

Hong Kong: bringing Taipingshan's history of plague to life
Commissioned by Wellcome Trust as part of their Contagious Cities project, this film features Hong Kong's remarkable Taipingshan Medical Heritage Trail, a journey through the dynamic and vibrant medical history of this incredible city.

Hong Kong's history of disease is far more dramatic than one might think, heavily featuring bubonic plague, cultural misunderstandings and completely differing views on medicine. Today, Hong Kong now ranks as one of the cities best able to respond to new outbreaks of disease.

Click here to read about how this film was made.

How to make... a prosthetic eye
A small, highly skilled team at Moorfields Eye Hospital transform the lives of people who have lost their eyes to accidents and disease. Each year, they work with their clients to create around 1,400 customised, detailed prosthetics, many of which replace eyes.
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Modern prosthetic eyes are far removed from the old misconceptions about ‘glass eyes’, combining modern materials, craftsmanship and artistry in an entirely unique way. In this film, ocularist David Carpenter talks us through the entire process of how a single prosthetic eye is made.

Last Chance Saloon – a journey into the heart of mental illness 

Toronto WebFest - OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT DOCUMENTARY & LIFESTYLE (2014)
Sheffield DocFest Videotheque 2014
This is part one of Last Chance Saloon, an award-winning 11-part web series. The series features Neil 'Twink' Tinning, a troubled, magnificent man living with bipolar disorder, and his unique attempt to understand the science behind his, and many other, mental health conditions - all while getting ready to play the biggest gig of his life.


All 11 episodes of Last Chance Saloon can be found here.

How designers make toys cute
What makes something so irresistibly cute that you need to touch, cuddle or play with it? We decided to find out from toy designers and cuteness experts Designbytouch.
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For them, making a cute toy is about far more than giving it big eyes and covering it in fur. It relies on a deep understanding of the powerful human desire to care for anything that reminds us of babies and small children. 

Creative Insights – Sharon Watson: choreographer
Sharon Watson, Artistic Director for Phoenix Dance Theatre, takes her inspiration from life itself. In this short film, we're offered a rare glimpse into her creative process, one that led her to transform the biochemical composition of tears into a remarkable contemporary dance performance, Tearfall.

Until – how long would you like to live?

Imagine Science Film Festival, NATURE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD (2011)
Do you want to live to 100? 1000? What about for ever? Meet a man seeking immortality, leading age-research scientists, the very young and the very old as they grapple with deciding what is the right age to die in Until, a journey of the lifetime.