Alan was born in Watford and went to university in Bangor, North Wales, where he studied English and Drama. He started working life in a travelling theatre company, visiting schools all over the country & writing much of their material.

Alan later trained as a drama teacher at Nottingham University , but most of his work in connection with the theatre has been as a writer or director. Other jobs have included working as an editor and working in a day centre. He has written stories and dramas for the BBC.

Elissa Elwick collobrated with Philip Ardagh on the Little Adventures trilogy of picture books. She writes as well as illustrates, and is also the author-illustrator of The Princess and the Sleep Stealer and the Stick and Fetch series. She conjures up ideas from her home in Cardiff, Wales.