CV

  • BA (Hons) in Design and Art direction, specialising in writing for advertising. 2:1.

  • My first job in advertising, at a start up agency in Manchester. I learned the craft of writing persuasive ad copy and the art of winning pitches.

  • Working client-side for the first time, I helped rebrand NTL and launch the UK’s biggest media company.

  • A specialist fundraising and charity marketing agency, where I learned the secrets behind emotive, effective DM copy.

  • Integrated agency in London, where I worked as a senior writer, primarily on TV and digital campaigns for Panasonic and Green & Blacks.

  • Lead writer and Creative Director for American Express, writing DM, digital and partner comms. I also managed a team of writers, designers and developers, helping to grow the business and win new clients including Amazon and Uber.

  • Head of copy, working mainly on branding, TV and ATL campaigns for travel brands.

Hi, I’m Ed. A writer from Brighton.

I’ve spent most of my career working in advertising and creative agencies, or as a freelancer while looking after my kids.

The craft of writing has always fascinated me, and I try to apply a simple concept to everything I put to paper or pixels: say interesting things in interesting ways.

For brands and agencies, the interesting thing might be what attracts a customer. For readers of poetry, it might be something more mysterious.

The interesting way could be a sonnet. Or TV ad. Or a poster containing no words at all.

Media in advertising is similar to form in poetry - it’s the vessel you pour your words and ideas into. If you’re patient (and perhaps a bit lucky) you’ll find exactly the right vessel for exactly the right idea - and that’s where the magic lies.

Emotion also plays a vital role in everything I write, and discovering new ways to tease out joy, sadness, desire or anger is what keeps me excited about what I do.