The Story.

From an early age, I was always fascinated by design and, in particular, understanding how things worked. This developed throughout my teenage years and, when combined with my love for everything automotive, by the time I was 16 I had set my sights on becoming a car designer.

After leaving school, with this dream in mind, I completed a National Diploma in Art and Design at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, gaining a distinction. It was while at college that I passed my driving test and bought my first car — a 1996 Rover Mini, a car that I still own today.

I soon became a regular at Stoke-on-Trent's Festival Park, the local 'boy racer' hangout, and it was during this stage of my life that I fell in love with modified cars. I quickly discovered that by modifying my own Mini, I could put my passion for functional design into practice in the real world.

In September 2004, I left home for Coventry University's famous Automotive Design course. It was during the summer of 2005, while I was home from university after my first year, that the journey which would become Optimise Automotive began.

After posting photos on The Mini Forum (where I have been a member since April 2004) of a new boot lining kit that I had created, a fellow club member said, "That looks great, can you make me one?" — to which I happily obliged. Over the following weeks, I sold a handful of boot lining kits to other TMF members, and that got me thinking: "If a few people on TMF want one, I wonder if others will too?"

I began trading under the name Equinox Styling, inspired by my own Mini Equinox, and it's fair to say I haven't looked back since.

After graduating from university in June 2008, Equinox Styling evolved into Optimise Automotive, allowing me to transform my part-time summer venture into a full-time business.

The rest, as they say, is history.

This incredible journey has taken me to many new places, introduced me to amazing people and pushed me to continually create high-quality interiors. My hard work and dedication have helped establish Optimise Automotive as a world-renowned name in Classic Mini interiors, while my desire to push boundaries within the Mini community has allowed me to create countless stunning interiors over the years.

My passion for design is what continues to make Optimise Automotive stand out from the crowd, and my enthusiasm for everything automotive is reflected in everything I create. As a petrol head myself, I approach each project as if it were for my own vehicle, ensuring every interior receives the same care, attention and passion that I would expect for my own Mini.