Meet the Team

Adrian has 35 years experience of internal and external communications – client side and agency – and is passionate about helping clients maximise their impact on audiences.  He coaches in presentation and communication skills to individuals and teams and also helps organisations integrate audio and video into their communication strategy.  He uses his considerable experience of producing webinars, podcasts and web video to help organisations develop compelling and effective content and interact with their online communities.

Ian has over 15 years experience of producing audio and video content.  Whether planning a shoot, filming on the day, or working his magic later in the edit suite, clients tell us that they feel thoroughly supported by Ian’s expertise coupled with a professional, enthusiastic and creative approach.  Since joining us in 2005 he has taken a leading role in developing our podcast, live webinar and online video and audio services.

Thoroughly at ease with all things technical, Ian also manages our studios and was the driving force in setting up our fully digital studio and upgrading all our cameras, edit workstations and software to support the latest 4k image standard.

Ian also runs our IT and Network services and has installed and supported computer systems for a number of clients.

Paul trained in music recording and production and spent five years creating and editing audio content produced in studios and at live events.  Combining practicality and creativity, Paul’s skills are invaluable both on location and back at base.  Since joining the Focus team, Paul has expanded his skills to include audio recording during video shoots and video editing.  Paul manages, edits and leads post-production of our ‘Out & About’ audio and video podcast channel.

Ian has spent decades in the world of radio, film and audio.  A sound engineer by training, Ian was a founding member of Ocean Sound, one of the UK’s first commercial radio stations.  Ian created Focus Television & Audio Production, an independent production and facilities business in 1979, and was a co-founder with Adrian of Focus Business Communications in 2004.

He has now retired from active co-management of the business but remains as a consultant helping us with technical projects and advice on our own studio facilities.  Ian is also a regular voice-over for a number of our clients.

Voice sample

With a background in graphic design and administration, Janita has an eye for detail.  She joined us in 2005 and runs our administration as well as our format transfers and DVD duplication.  She maintains our own extensive archive library (dating from 1979) and a number of our clients’ secure offsite archives.

Andy has over 30 years experience as a camera operator.  He is also an experienced editor, director and producer and has worked for many broadcasters including the BBC and C4.  In a 20 year relationship with Focus, Andy has worked primarily on location shoots (indoor and outdoor) where his knowledge and experience is invaluable.

Tom has been a freelance lighting-cameraman since 1989 and has filmed for many TV programmes and documentary productions for all the major UK channels.  We have worked with Tom for many years; being based in Hexham, Northumberland he is our preferred choice for filming in the North of England.

Mark is an award-winning CGI 3D animation, motion graphics, effects and video specialist.  With more than 20 years experience in the film and television industry he specialises in producing creative and distinctive content across a variety of areas including animated logos and explainer videos.  We have worked with Mark for over 10 years, with each project producing excellent results and added value for clients.

Isabel is a video journalist by training and background.  She shoots everything from corporate events to music videos, and she is also an experienced editor.  Isabel has worked with us on a wide variety of location shoots in the UK and mainland Europe over the last seven years.

Dave brings over 25 years of technical expertise, working as a lighting director and director of photography, as well as a sound engineer.  With credits from most major broadcasters, including BBC, ITV and Sky, he has gained a reputation for rigging, lighting and working in difficult situations including ships, aircraft and submarines.  We have worked with Dave for over ten years.

Rob has worked on numerous broadcast and corporate projects all over the world including location shooting, multiple camera work, documentary and drama shoots.  Rob has experience of working on all sizes of productions; he is equally at home up a mountain with just the director, as he is working alongside a large drama crew.  We have worked with Rob for over eight years.

Martin is our photographic, multi-media and digital imaging/colour correction specialist.  He has over 25 years imaging experience, and is also an Adobe Photoshop tutor.  As an independent photo-journalist he provides reviews for local print and web media.  We have worked with Martin for over twelve years and his skills always add impact to projects.

Gary is our character illustrator and animator. Gary starting drawing cartoons as a child and has never stopped.

Inspired by comics especially the Beano and Dandy and the work of the strip cartoonists he found he could make a living from what he loved doing. His work has appeared in TV ads and he had a strip cartoon in The Times. You can check out our interview with Gary and see him at work here.

Clare is an accomplished journalist with excellent presenting ability together with a style of delivery that enables her to do audio and video voice-overs.  She has worked as a newsreader, presenting peak time bulletins for GMTV and ITV Meridian, and her other television credits include SkyTV and BBC South.  Clare has worked with us on a number of projects over the last fifteen years.

Alina is an award-winning presenter and broadcaster who has worked extensively across radio and television for the past 13 years.  A former finalist in the BBC Talent Scheme, Alina has worked at BBC Radio Solent as a travel presenter and breakfast show host, and at BBC South Today as their weather presenter.  Early in 2013, she was invited to join the BBC national weather team where she presented for BBC 1, the News Channel, Radio 4, and 5 Live.  Alina has worked with us for eight years on a variety of projects.

Emily is an actress and professional voice-over artist.  You’ll hear her on all kinds of TV and radio commercials, radio station imaging, web videos, phone systems, computer games and narrations.  As an actress, she brings another skill set to her voice-over work, providing natural sounding reads with emotion and character voices too.

Dave is a versatile English voice-over artist.  He specialises in commercials, corporate work, promos, narration, live announcing and imaging.  Dave has worked with us on a variety of voice-over projects over the last few years.

Brian has made a career from using his voice; initially as a singer and actor, and subsequently as a specialist in all areas of voice work over the last 20 years.  He has also scripted and produced for the corporate sector as well as cast and directed voices. Brian has provided both voice-overs and to-camera presentations for us over the last few years.

Hugh is a highly experienced and award-winning TV and radio reporter, news presenter and scriptwriter.  He also trains many organisations in media management skills.  Hugh has worked with us for over ten years on a variety of projects and for a range of clients, usually acting as presenter-interviewer.