After an initial career in electronic engineering, Derek taught yoga, became a full-time teacher in mathematics and computing at a local secondary school, and then had a long career in adult education, where he met with professional artists and craftspeople. This fired his interest in craft and led to him taking up woodturning in the mid-90s, and this has now become his first love. In the previous year Derek has written various articles for magazines, including 10 for GMC's Woodturning magazine. He lives in Tonbridge, Kent.