Jon Stamford was born in London, raised in Yorkshire, educated in the West Country and is currently domiciled in Kent, the garden of England. Despite a propensity for art, language and languages in his early schooling, he was, at that time, less interested in the humanities than in the sciences. The 60s and early 70s were exciting times for science and, while at school, he developed a passion for astronomy in his teens. This in turn led him towards the sciences and, in particular, the brain sciences as a career. On leaving school, he became a neuroscientist, researching and teaching the means by which neurotransmitters controlled human emotion, action and behaviour. Stamford left academia in 2003 and took the opportunity to rekindle his interests in the humanities. He returned to photography whilst also learning stained glass techniques. A chance conversation around a decade ago provided an opportunity to write and, in due course, led to a regular blog and books.