About · The field guide
Hi, I’m Ryan. WordPress by trade, outdoors by default.
I lead WordPress support for a Chicago-based agency, fully remote, splitting my week between a home office and a VW T6 I call my travelling office. Away from work it’s DIY, sport, fitness, beach days and adventures with the family.
- Born
- 1985
- Home
- South coast
- On WordPress since
- v2
- Office
- Home + VW T6
01
The beginning
Born in 1985 on England’s south coast, with the beach on one side and the South Downs on the other. Mountain bikes, bodyboards, swimming, and a fair bit of Mega Drive and PS1. A college course in coding set the direction. The camping set the rest.
Where it started
Family trips under canvas
Our family camping started in tents: the New Forest, Cornwall, all the way up to Northumberland. Those trips are why I want my two boys to have the same kind of adventures.
The spark
Dad’s T3 Holdsworth
My dad’s VW T3 Holdsworth conversion. This is where my love of campervans started, and it’s the reason I ended up with a T6.
The upgrade
CI Sundance 520
After the T3, Dad moved up to a five-berth CI Sundance 520 coach-built motorhome on a Fiat Ducato chassis.
Full circle
Our VW T6
Now it’s my turn: a self-built T6 for family weekends, beach days and the occasional office with a view.
02
The journey
From the college IT department to leading support for one of the biggest WordPress teams in the world. Tap a waypoint for the story.
Straight after college I joined the college’s own IT department. Over seven years I worked up to Lead Web Developer, building custom web and mobile applications.
I found WordPress around version 2 and made it my focus, joining a local digital agency as a Junior WordPress Developer and working up to Senior.
I moved into support, took on leadership roles, and eventually became Head of Support.
COVID-19 arrived at the same time as my first son. I adapted to remote work, then became Head of Support at another WordPress agency.
Working for a Chicago-based digital agency, leading support for one of the largest WordPress teams in the world. From home, or from the van.
03
Two desks
MacBook Pro and dual screens on a standing desk at base camp. Ovano table, swivel seat base and views for days out there. Drag to compare.
Base camp
Out there
04
Tools of the trade
The stack I build with every day, from the AI out front to the server at the back. Tap a layer.
-
Planning, reviews, pair-programming and first drafts. Claude helped build this very site, and has opinions about my CSS.
-
Where the code gets written, and every change gets tracked.
-
The bits you see, tap and scroll. Like this stack.
-
The platform I’ve worked with since version 2, and still the day job.
-
Where WordPress runs and the data lives.
05
Away from the desk
Eight things that fill the time between commits. Hover or tap to open one.
Campervans
A lifelong thing, from Dad’s T3 to my own T6. I love planning trips and the DIY upgrades in between.
Sport
Football has always been there. Lately darts has crept in too, with the oche in the gym.
Fitness
CrossFit pushed me physically and mentally. It’s why I built the home gym.
Family
Family comes first: camping trips, beach days and adventures with my wife, two boys and Max.
Travel
Exploring the UK, plus other countries and cultures whenever we can.
DIY
Van upgrades, jobs around the house and the garage workshop. Any excuse for a new tool.
Max
Our black cavapoo. Chief co-pilot on every trip and the best excuse for a long walk.
The outdoors
Beach on one side, the South Downs on the other. Getting outside is how I reset.
True north Balance. Family, fitness, the outdoors and adventure. Get those four right and the rest follows.
06
The crew
The people (and the dog) the whole thing is for.
Fancy a chat? Shoot me a message.
WordPress projects, van builds, campsite tips or just a good podcast recommendation.