Legendary British alpinist who started his working life as a coalminer. First ascents and early repeats of difficult, bold technical lines on UK trad, Scottish winter, Alpine summer and winter, Patagonia, Alaska, the Himalayas and beyond.

8b sport, Himalayan 8000 metre peaks, Scottish grade VIII, E8 trad climbing. Loves back country skiing and enjoys a nice pint.

His two books Learning to Breathe and Thin White Line have been translated into many languages and won seven literary awards between them.

Patron of Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust. 

IFMGA Mountain guide and PhD.