HTML:

Web pages are written in a text code called HTML (HyperText Markup Language).

Web browsers (e.g. Internet Explorer, Safari or Opera ) understand this code and use it to display the pages.

I use Dreamweaver to make my sites.
HTML can also be written using any text editing program, and this is perhaps the best way to learn.

With a little knowledge of what's going on "under the surface" of your web page, you'll be able to find faults and fix them, so you'll be less worried about things going wrong.

Website Design

I usually design websites to communicate directly to particular target audiences. Information is usually conveyed through cartoon characters in words, cartoons or games.

This generally includes maintaining the site for the first year or so, while I help the owners learn the software and the IT skills to run it without my help.

Flash games are often used to make the site memorable and attractive. Rather than tweaking the same old game formats, I custom-make games to tie in with the message and the cartoon characters.

Sites

Viz Comic - Adult comedy magazine site with several of my Flash games based on their existing characters. The games have some adult content. (My games are still featured but my site design has been replaced.)

Terry Deary - - site for the infamous author of Horrible Histories. Featuring Dr Dreary character. Retro-style flash intro, PDF catalogues and downloadable headsman game. (This game was coded for the PC only, before I began to use Flash.)

Dodgy Clutch Theatre Company - Visual site for a very visual theatre company, including Flash slideshows of their own performance photos. Dodgy Clutch have retained my design and expanded their content with more slideshows of their own.

From Script to Screen - (Praxis Films) documentary film-makers site including downloadable PDF reports. The site has been reworked but still has a flavour of my original design.

Idle Eric's Walking World - Walking and health information site for men, featuring the Idle Eric character I developed with my brother Simon. I also created some Idle Eric animation, walking maps and photography. (The site continues to use the character, but takes some liberties with his appearance!)

TO LETsville (www.toletsville.co.uk) - Community and safety information for students, featuring my student characters Joe, Stu and Binki, plus Flem the burglar. Two Flash games and regular monthly cartoons - all with safety messages. I ran this site for the whole of it's four year run. (It closed in 2007.)