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Born in Manchester and raised in Stockport, England I grew up learning Sligo style tin whistle and wooden flute playing from Marian Egan & Tony Ryan. My music reflects these origins, my Yorkshire home and my love for the music of the Iberian peninsula and beyond. My flute playing is inspired by Roger Sherlock, Tony Howley, Michael Tubridy, Matt Molloy and Paul Roche . 

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In November 2025, I successfully completed my Ethnomusicology Doctorate at the University of Sheffield Department of Music specialising in wooden flute playing in the contemporary Asturian (northern Spain) folk scene from 2015. I am currently working to share the work in the form of an Asturian flute album co-produced by Asturian multi-instrumentalist Rubén Bada and  Manchester Irish legend Michael McGoldrick, and  as a documentary film. Watch this space. 

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As part of my mission to share Irish traditional music and its Celtic cousins, I run weekly Whistles Clubs in Sheffield, England. A relaxed informal way to learn tin whistle and low whistle. I continue to teach private one to one lessons on whistles and wooden flute.

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My major project Quarehawk was first performed with a nine piece band as part of the Not Quite Light Festival Salford, the studio album was released in August 2019 and launched at Cambridge Folk Festival.  Recorded in Manchester with Michael McGoldrick and in Sheffield with Tom Wright and Sam Proctor, the album is a mix my Irish and English influences as well Asturian music I have learnt during my doctoral research. I play flutes, whistles and hulusi as well as singing and performance poetry. The album showcases my repertory learnt growing up in the Manchester Irish community and documents the emotions I went through after my father died tragically during the recording. I was lucky to have a stellar cast of  performers including Grammy winning Basque trikitixa (accordion) expert Kepa Junkera, Manchester poet Mike Garry, Ríoghnach Connolly (The Breath, Honeyfeet), Leticia González Menéndez and Rubén Bada (L-R), Simon Bradley (Llan de Cubel), Cellist Liz Hanks, Limerick box player Dr Helen Gubbins and English folk singer and fiddler Bryony Griffith. Anthony Davies provided some old school piano and  Michael McGoldrick added some subtle bodhrán and soundscaping. Will Hampson, Liz Hanley, Hannah Moule, Michael Burns and Jonathan Vidler have performed Quarehawk live with me along the way. ​​

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As well as performing with my Quarehawk line up,  I am developing new work with multi-disciplinary artists Not Quite Light, the first product of this new relationship will be released later in 2026 on Dimple Discs as part of the Bring Your Own Hammer project.

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Folkuuuuunst, my duo with the brilliant Will Hampson, will see the light of day at Whitby Folk Week 2026, the place of its genesis. An upbeat set of tunes and the odd 1980s synth pop cover.

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In February  2020 I was honoured to be a finalist in the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal Competition in Cork. I am a former All Britain Senior Flute Champion and have performed across Europe and in The United States with Trad Irish Groups, Céilí Bands and Theatre Productions as well as being featured on the Soundtrack to ‘The Irish Empire’ TV Series Commissioned by Radio Telefís Eireann/BBC Northern Ireland/SBS AUSTRALIA.

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In the last few years I have been delighted to tutor at The University of Sheffield, Lorient Inter-Celtic Festival, Whitby Folk Week, Trip to Birmingham Trad Fest and The Leeds Irish Gathering.