Alan was born and brought up in Edinburgh and attended the Edinburgh College of Art from 1976 – 1980, where he specialised in silversmithing and design. He held various posts within the field of applied arts before obtaining a position as silversmith with Hamilton and Inches, in Edinburgh, Scotland’s most prestigious silverware manufacturers. In 1994 he left Hamilton and Inches to establish his own business and reputation as a designer silversmith.

Alan’s interest in history and his love of antiques has inspired many of his pieces. His skill of chasing ie. Hammering the silver with steel  punches, provides a tremendous scope for creativity and his designs are increasingly moving away from the traditional into the contemporary field. He enjoys the combination of mediums, particularly wood and silver, and this is frequently a feature of his work.