About Paul Neave

2006-2008 (The facts)
Who/What/Where/When/Why? Are you available for work? How can I learn the ways of the Flash? What Flash books can you recommend? Can you teach me Flash? Do you have any tips?
 * My name is Paul Neave.  I am a fully functioning 27 year old male and Neave.com is my virtual presence.  I dwell in a city called Manchester, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or just UK for short.  Right now.  And to be honest, I don't know why... my entire life is a terrifying mystery (but in a good way).
 * I'm currently not taking on any freelance work as I'm fully immersed in personal projects at this time, but thanks for considering me.  I hope we can still be friends.
 * Lay your paws on a free trial copy of Adobe Flash and try out the tutorials that come with it.  Once you've covered the basics, head over to one of the many Flash community sites such as Ultrashock, We're Here, Kirupa, GotoAndPlay.it or Adobe's Flash Developer Center.  More importantly, make sure you enjoy playing with Flash otherwise it's not worth it.
 * Don't read any books if you're just starting with Flash.  It's much more satisfying to learn from first hand experience — you'll enjoy it and will gain a real sense of personal achievement.  Then if you're looking to sharpen your coding skills, I'd recommend Colin Moock's ActionScript Definitive Guide or Essential ActionScript 2.0, possibly the bible of all things Flash.
 * I'm a hopeless instructor — you'd be much better off learning by playing with Flash yourself than listening to me dribbling on about ones and zeros.
 * Turn the computer off and read something new.  Sit on a park bench and gawp aimlessly at the clouds or stars above you.  Smile like an idiot.  Count your blessings.  Don't worry about the future.  Don't think too much.  Don't take life too seriously.  Don't pay attention to a word I say.

2008-2011
//  Who are you?

Hello. My name is Paul Neave. I am a typical male person with hair and skin and a face and lots of flappy bits. Yes we all have flappy bits. No use in denying it. I am 28 years young, am British and live in London, in England, in the greatest of all Britains, Great Britain.

//  What do you do?

My interests are wide and varied, including cheese, monkeys, armpits, twigs, fallen masonry, high waistbands, whoops-a-daisy, high jinx and tomfoolery. Yay for tomfoolery.

I am also an interactive designer. That's a fancy way of saying I make interactive tools and toys, everything from games to applications, from experimental interactive art to intuitive user interfaces. I love trying to dissolve the boundaries between code and design and exploring ways of making technology seem less scary and geeky but more fun and human.

I've been using Flash for over 10 years both with Neave.com and for design agencies in Manchester and London, and have been making computers do silly things for even longer.

//  What is Neave.com about?

Neave.com is my personal interactive playground; a place where I can explore my ideas and try out risky experiments that I wouldn't normally get the opportunity to make anywhere else. I often spend my days pointing and gazing in wonder at the world around me, and Neave.com allows me to turn my daydreams into reality.

//  Can I subscribe to Neave.com?

Yes, you can subscribe to my RSS feed if you want to be informed about any new sporadic updates to Neave.com. If you don't know how to use RSS, find out more with the BBC.

//  How do you pronounce 'Neave'?

Just like weave. Or heave. Think knee and a V, without the silent K. Easy, huh?

//  How can I learn Flash?

Practice. Lots and lots of practice. Firstly grab a free trial copy of Adobe Flash and try out the tutorials that come with it. Once you've covered the basics, head over to one of the many Flash forum sites such as Ultrashock, Kirupa, GotoAndPlay.it or Adobe's Flash Developer Center. More importantly make sure you enjoy learning Flash, otherwise it's not worth it.

//  What Flash books can you recommend?

Don't read any books if you're just starting with Flash, start by using the tutorials that come with Flash and learn from first hand experience — you'll enjoy it a lot more and will gain a real sense of personal achievement. Then if you're looking to sharpen your skills with ActionScript, I'd recommend Colin Moock's excellent tome Essential ActionScript 3.0.

//  Do you have any tips?

Turn the computer off and go outside. Go hang with your friends. Make lots of new friends. Count your blessings. Smile like an idiot. Don't think too much. Don't worry about the future. Don't take life too seriously. Don't pay attention to a word I say.

Links
2006-2008

2008-2011