Let’s make history together.
There are so many ways to explore and share Scotland’s past, so where to start? I am available on a contract and commission basis to put my expertise to work for heritage organisations, museums, media, tour groups, individual projects, and more.
Here are a few ways we can work together to tell old and new stories alike.
Writing
I have more than a decade of experience writing about Scottish history and archaeology for general and scholarly audiences. I currently write a monthly history column for The National newspaper, and have by-lines in The Scots Magazine, History Scotland, History Today, Hidden Scotland, The Scottish Banner, National Museums Scotland’s blog, and many more. If you want to tell stories and present factual information about Scotland’s past through the written word, talk to me about:
Long-form writing for print and digital platforms, including books, pamphlets, periodicals, websites, and blogs
Creative non-fiction and poetry centred on Scotland’s landscapes and built heritage
Writing subject-specific overview documents for use in training staff and volunteers at museums and heritage sites
Literature reviews, recommended readings lists, and other resources drawing on my desk-based research skills and knowledge of Scottish primary and secondary historical sources
Museum interpretation & consultation
Telling a coherent and engaging story from a vast amount of information is a core challenge for museums and heritage sites to overcome. I have worked and volunteered in both behind-the-scenes and public-facing roles at sites including the Bannockburn Visitor Centre, the Scottish Crannog Centre, and the National Museum of Scotland, allowing me to do just that. Projects I am able to contribute to include:
The creation of new object displays and writing interpretation
Finding narratives within collections for use in displays, workshops, lectures, digital content, and community engagement
Creating and optimising digital content including editorial outputs, blogs, and websites for a better user experience and improved visibility through SEO
In-person & online talks
Do you work with a heritage site, library, school, or organisation that wants to connect its audience to stories from Scotland’s history? I am available to give in-person and online talks on a variety of subjects, with past talks conducted for The National Trust for Scotland, Archaeology Scotland, Museums & Galleries Edinburgh, Previously…Scotland’s History Festival, the John Grey Centre in Haddington, and more. I can create a custom talk depending on your organisation’s interest, with past examples including:
Towers of Power: 2,000 years of fortification history in Scotland
The Scottish history behind Game of Thrones (based on my 2019 book, The History Behind Game of Thrones: The North Remembers)
Writing about Place: an immersive approach to history, archaeology, and landscape
Castles in video games: how realistic are they?
Historical research
As a qualified historian and researcher with a Master of Research in Historical Research degree from the University of Stirling, I can undertake research on a wide array of subjects within the realm of Scottish history and archaeology. This can include desk-based factual research as well as on-site research at historic sites. Examples of the types of projects I can undertake include:
Comprehensive histories of specific historic sites such as castles, abbeys, ancient monuments, and historic landscapes
Understanding historic landscapes through historical sources, folklore, literature, storytelling and contemporary lived experiences
Thematic historical and travel guides. For example, a guide to places associated with a particular clan or family, key locations of interest for those interested in specific time periods such as the Roman invasions or Jacobite Risings, or the best historic sites to visit for families or die-hard history obsessives (like me!)
Video presenting &
media appearances
Need someone in front of or behind a camera or microphone? Working with Dig It! Scotland, I proposed, scripted, and presented multiple video series’ centred on Scottish historic sites and museums. I showed Gregg Wallace around Edinburgh Castle for his Channel 5 series Big Weekends Away (Season 1, Episode 3), and appeared as a guest expert for BBC Scotland’s documentary New Town. I was a regular travel and storytelling guest on BBC Radio Scotland, and while promoting my 2019 book I gave interviews for STV’ 2s Live at Five. Most recently, I recorded an episode about mythical ‘Redcap’ demons who lurk within ruinous castles for BBC Radio 4, airing around Christmas 2023. All of this experience means I can:
Plan, script, and present or narrate educational videos
Give expert appearances as an individual researcher or on behalf of an organisation or projects on television, radio, and podcasts
Communicate effectively in visual and audio mediums through major platforms and in-house communications channels alike
Tour guiding & trip planning
If you love history and archaeology, choosing which locations to visit to ensure you make the most of your time in Scotland can be a daunting task. My experience of visiting nearly 450 Scottish castles and countless ancient monuments, battlefields, and historic landscapes allows me to narrow down the best of the best, whatever your main interests are. Get in touch if you are interested in:
Tailored walking tours of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh
Guiding for large tour groups including coaches for day trips and multi-day trips across Scotland
Help planning your trip to Scotland, including historic sites to prioritise and in-depth recommendations for specific areas
General trip advice including where to stay (or not!) depending on your interests, how long you’ll need in each place, and where to find more information about the places and stories that intrigue you
