Born in Yorkshire, England, and attended State Primary and Secondary Schools. At an early age had to decide between Fine Arts and Physics, choosing Physics but keeping a lifelong interest in painting and sculpture.
Graduated in Physics from University of Leeds, then proceeding to University College, Oxford, where he developed his interests in mathematical physics and quantum theory and obtained a D.Phil. in that field.
Appointed Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, University of Durham, he first taught Mathematics for Chemists, escaping for a year to work on Molecular Theory at MIT (Mass USA) with the famous J C Slater.
Later appointments in the UK include a Lectureship in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry; a Readership in Quantum Theory; and then, a personal Chair of Theoretical Physics and Theoretical Chemistry (all at University of Keele); and finally a Chair of Chemistry (University of Sheffield).
In 1982 he moved to Italy, with his second wife (Virginia Del Re), as Professore Ordinario (Full Professor) di Chimica Teorica, University of Pisa, where he is now Professore Emerito.
As Visiting Professor, has worked in many European Universities (in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden) also in India, Israel, Japan, USA.
Elected (1973) Member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science Elected (1987) Member of the European Academy of Arts, Sciences and the Humanities.
Author of seven scientific monographs, mainly on quantum mechanics and mathematics (with several translations, into German, Japanese, Polish and Russian); and of about 150 research publications in the same area.
Member of various editorial boards, e.g., John Wiley, Academic Publishers, nd advisory bodies.
Has a strongly 'pictorial' imagination, believing that difficult and abstract concepts can usually be conveyed through visual images: has practised painting and sculpture. Loves music and the visual arts. Both his daughter – a professional painter – and his son, who left a career in Marine Biology to become a designer in furniture and art objects, seem to have inherited this rather than his passion for abstract theory.