After studying Philosophy and English at King's College, Cambridge, Richard worked at the BBC as a TV sound recordist. This led to a career as a freelance director, and then a move into full time screenwriting.

Richard's film work includes 14 commissions for US studios (Universal, Warner Bros, Miramax) and UK companies such as Working Title and Pathe.

In television, his writing has been for mainstream audiences, with BBC adaptations of Kidnapped and Sherlock Holmes' Baker Street Irregulars, episodes of Robin Hood and Primeval (ITV), Sinbad (Sky) and a large scale adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Going Postal.

These shows have earned widespread industry recognition with BAFTA nominations and RTS awards.
He lives by the sea in Essex.