Meet the Team at Fresh Air Studios (if you really want to!)

Paul Philpott, Managing Director

Since a teenager, Paul has worked (and pretty much grew up) in the broadcasting industry, working for local radio. He spent a short freelance period at BBC Radio 1 as a production assistant, before returning to Plymouth to study Media Production at Plymouth College of Art & Design (funding his student days by writing commercials). He then worked his way up the ranks at Plymouth Sound Radio (part of TLRC Radio Group, at that time) to become the station’s Promotions Manager, making the department one of the most successful in the group.

In mid 1997, he lead a training conference for the group’s S&P execs on the legalities and concepts of radio sponsorship, and from this point his career was being steered towards becoming an MD for one of the Group’s stations. However, in late ’97 he left to set up Fresh Air Studios. Like many who start in local radio, he has held several positions in parallel to running the production company, including presenting on the station’s breakfast show for 8 years (1999-2007) and becoming one of the region’s best known radio personalities.

In 2003, Fresh Air Studios Ltd was awarded the regional E-commerce award for E-business. In 2006 Paul’s broadcasting expertise was called on again when he was invited to become a director of Your Radio Ltd and work on local radio licence bids. In Dec 2007, Paul left regular broadcasting to fully dedicate and manage the expansion of Fresh Air Studios Ltd, although he still presents events for charity, including a fashion show in aid of St. Lukes Hospice (Apr 08) in front of over 1,500 people.

Paul has an eclectic music taste, and admits that his favourite artist of all time is Belinda Carlisle – but don’t poke fun at this, as he holds a martial arts Black Belt 1st Dan in Kickboxing and a Black Belt in Eskrima!

Mark Stephenson, Executive Producer

Mark studied for a Joint Honours Degree in History (major) and Media Studies (minor) where he put much emphasis on research, a skill that is of great benefit to him as a Producer, achieving a 2:1.

In 2000, he joined Westcountry Publications as an Advertising Sales Exec, working in a high pressure, revenue target-driven environment. It is at this time that Mark also explored his interest in media production, working as a freelancer for local broadcasting services. This led him to Fresh Air Studios in 2005, where he eventually joined the team full time.

After working as a successful producer on a wide range of local, regional and national productions, and managing the radio commercial production department at Fresh Air Studios he was promoted in late 2007 to Executive Producer, and now overseas the company’s development into new areas of production, while managing its relationships with advertising agencies.

In his spare time he totally owns up to moonlighting in the studios to produce a series of podcasts for local bands. He enjoys a good pint, and as such has an expenses budget like no other!

Jon Iles, Senior Writer & Voiceover

On leaving school, Jon Iles went to the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, where he qualified as a teacher of English and Drama but chose to pursue a career as an actor.

After 10 years of working in the theatre - and 150 television commercials - he joined the cast of The Bill in 1984 as DC Mike Dashwood, and spent a very happy 10 years on the show. On leaving The Bill he chose to withdraw from public life and moved into the heady world of voiceovers! Since relocating to Plymouth in 2005, voiceovers and writing have become his main career.

Jon has written 4 stage plays that have been produced for theatre, a number of radio plays, a sitcom, and even a short story for Woman’s Own. These days Fresh Air Studios puts his writing talent to good use with commercial copywriting, corporate scripts, podcasts and audio brochures.

Jon is a qualified Gym Instructor and loves his daily workout. He enjoys traveling and has been around the world twice both through work and pleasure, with his theatre productions taking him from Muscat in Oman to Sarawak in Borneo. On a slightly less glamorous note, he has played the full canon of panto villains in elegant locations from Southport to Southend.

Lisa Hartwell, Producer & Writer

Lisa has been a drama queen all her life! Initially, she had great plans to become an actress and studied Drama at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, achieving a 2:1. While at university she developed an interest in television and radio and her production skills were praised even then (after editing a student film precisely to a pop music track using ancient equipment hidden away in the Drama Department’s attic).

Following her studies, Lisa became a presenter in local radio, initially at Kix 96 in Coventry before moving to Devon to work for Plymouth Sound and South Hams Radio over a period of 10 years. After Fresh Air Studios was created she became a resident voiceover, producer and writer.

Lisa has loved writing ever since she was a child and her professional writing projects have included radio commercials, on-hold scripts, film and theatre reviews, eBooks, newsletters and website articles. She enjoys blogging and has created a number of different websites.

When she isn’t in front of a computer, Lisa loves to travel and has been backpacking around Australia, Europe and the Solomon Islands, although these days she tends to prefer more luxury from her holidays.