John Brownlow was educated at Grammar Schools in Retford and Aylesbury
before going to Keble College, Oxford to study Mathematics. After a
year, however, he decided he no longer wished to know what X equalled
and switched to English Language and Literature. Jobs before he entered
the film industry included computer systems programmer, rocket
scientist, interactive games writer and music journalist.
He began work in British TV in 1990 as a researcher on documentaries,
and swiftly moved into producing and directing a series of acclaimed
British TV documentaries. These ranged from hard-hitting investigative
pieces to innovative historical series and feature- length
documentaries.
In 1999 he switched to full-time screenwriting and has been busy ever
since. He has a feature film in development to direct in 2004. As well
as writing and directing films he is a well-known street
photographer.