Overview
I've been working in book design for more than 17 years and have a wealth of design, production and publishing knowledge. I’m a highly skilled designer who can transform your manuscript into a thing of beauty. I worked for many years as Creative Director at a successful design and publishing house before going freelance. My Clients have included: FotoVue, Bradt Guides, Sandstone Press, And Other Stories and Vertebrate Publishing. I’ve also worked on numerous self-publishing projects so can offer my industry experience and skills at affordable, reasonable prices.
I can design anything from a single front cover to a full jacket with flaps and spine, or a complete bespoke book – cover-to-cover with all internal pages. Paperbacks to hardbacks and everything in-between including eBook covers. I’m highly experienced in preparing images to an exceptional and professional standard for print. Clean, legible and accurate typography plays an integral part to every project that I produce. I also have the ability to produce simple illustrations or graphics such as diagrams, graphs and maps – some examples of which can be seen in my portfolio.
I've decided to concentrate on offering design and production for non-fiction books here on Reedsy, but I can design for any genre if required.
I've worked extensively with the outdoor industry producing (though certainly not limited to) the following books:
• Coffee table photography and nature
• Photography location guides
• Climbing and bouldering guides
• Climbing training guides
• Mountain biking guides
• Walking guides
• Biographies
• Self help/improvement
• Non-fiction
I'm an honest person and like to be transparent in the way I work. Because of my experience and skill set; please be aware that I am not the 'cheap option' – what I am is the 'safe pair of hands' and 'fair option'.
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“I have worked with Nathan since the beginning of fotoVUE in 2014. Since then, we have published 23 titles. He has designed all our book templates and has laid out the majority of our titles. He is professional, reliable and talented, and an integral part of the fotoVUE business. His costs are reasonable and because of his vast experience in book design he is our guarantee that everything goes right at the printers.”
Mick Ryan – Director fotoVUE Ltd.
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“Nathan has designed and managed books through to print on scores of occasions for Vertebrate Publishing, including the best-selling small guides series, the bedrock of our business. He expertly combines creativity, attention to detail and book publishing experience. Highly recommended.”
Jon Barton – Director Vertebrate Publishing Ltd.
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Services
Non-Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Puffins: Life on the Atlantic Edge – Second placed Favourite Scottish Nature Photography Book 2022
- Photographing Iceland Vol 1 – winner of the 2021 BIBA® Non-Fiction: Travel/Photography
- 1001 Climbing Tips – winner of the 2016 Banff Mountain Book Competition (Best Guidebook)
- Alpine Exposures – winner of the 2015 Banff Mountain Book Competition (Mountain Image category)
- Peak District Bouldering – winner of the 2011 Banff Mountain Book Competition (Best Guidebook)
- Chasing the Deer – Shortlisted for Favourite Scottish Nature Photography Book 2022
- The Darkness Beckons – shortlisted for the 2018 Sports Book Award (Illustrated Book of the Year Award)
Certifications
- HND in Package Design & Promotion (Graphic Design)
- BTEC National Diploma in General Art & Design
Work experience
Self-employed
I'm an award-winning graphic designer with a wealth of design and publishing industry experience. I graduated from Junior Designer to Studio Manager to Senior Designer; and then from Head of Design to Creative Director in design agency, publishing and traditional reprographic roles. In 2017, I left my then Creative Director job and started working for myself as a freelance graphic designer, specialising in book design.
Vertebrate Graphics / Publishing
When I joined Vertebrate Graphics (VG) it was purely a graphic design agency, however in 2004 – following the huge success of a series of mountain biking guides that I designed and produced – the MD decided to focus on publishing. On the back of the success that followed, Vertebrate Graphics subsequently became Vertebrate Publishing (VP) in 2012 and has now developed into a world leader in publishing outdoor literature.
My main focus switched to designing and producing books, which included cover and internal page design. I worked on a wide variety of publications including young adult fiction, non-fiction, biographies, large format coffee table books and a number of award-winning guidebooks.
Deepblue
Cybertechnics Limited
Bodymatters Health & Fitness Limited
Grafiqué Communication Limited