Hi, I'm Reece.
I'm a Front End
Developer.
About Me
I am a Front End Developer based in Moray, Scotland. I enjoy designing websites and building them with React and TypeScript.
I started out my journey as a Front End Developer building basic hobby sites using plain HTML, CSS and Javascript. I began working with Angular in 2019. I spent a few years working with this framework, before moving on to React and Typescript. I have been developing my React skills and building sites with NextJS and Typescript since the summer of 2021. I am currently employed by The Football Pools as a Senior Software Engineer, working in the Front End Team.
I am passionate about writing clean, efficient code and I'm also very interested in exploring new technologies.
Experience
I have 6 years professional expierience working as a front end developer, and a further 6 years prior to this as a hobbyist/student. Below is a breakdown of how long I have been working with different languages and frameworks, in both a personal and professional capacity.
- HTML, CSS and JS - 10+ years
- Angular - 2 years
- React - 3+ years
- NextJS - 3+ years
- Typescript - 3+ years
My Projects
I built this website to showcase my work as an Indie Game Developer. This site is built using NextJS, Typescript and the Hygraph CMS.
View Website
This site uses the OMDb API to display media based on search parameters. This portfolio piece demonstrates my understanding of Redux state management, api routes and react state and hooks.
View Project
This site is a basic portfolio piece built using sveltekit. I have implemented the PokeAPI to display different pokemon based on the generation they are viewing.
View Project
Advent of Code is an advent calendar of small programming puzzles for a variety of skill sets and skill levels that can be solved in any programming language. This site tracks my progress and solutions.
View Advent of codeMy Journey
First Discovered Web Development
Hobbyist
I was first introduced to web development in my last years of High School. I took a basic web design class with a few mates, and that was when I discovered my passion for web development.
2012Casual Developer
Hobbyist
The following two years I spent as a casual hobbyist, designing and building very basic sites, and building my skills in HTML and CSS. I also started to dabble in JavaScript during this time.
2012-2014HNC Computing
Student
As a student in the HNC Computing Course at my local college, Moray College UHI, I continued my personal development of HTML, CSS and JS. I also took various other classes, where I learnt the basics with Python, Java and SQL.
Sept 2014 - June 2015HND Computing
Student
Moving onto the HND course, I continued to develop the programming skills from the year before. I felt I was moving further away from web development during this year, however, and opted against moving forward into the Computing degree and started the following year as a HNC Interactive Media student.
Sept 2015 - June 2016HNC Interactive Media
Student
During this year I was able to spend more time developing my web dev skills, along with learning some new ones, particularly around designing a website from scratch. From basic UI design with sketches and wireframes, to building the site itself. I also spent time with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and was able to develop some basic skills there.
Sept 2016 - June 2017HND Interactive Media
Student
The second year of IM took the knowledge and skills from the HNC and built on them further. By this time my HTML and CSS skills were very proficient, and I started looking for a new challenge. In other areas of this course, I continued to use Illustrator and Photoshop, and was introduced to 3D animation and Video Editing techniques.
Sept 2017 - June 2018The Football Pools
Graduate Developer
In early 2018 there was a presentation at college from a Producer at The Football Pools, who had recently opened an office in Elgin, Moray and were looking to expand their staff. I applied and was offered the position of a Graduate Developer. I worked solely within the Front End team. My main duties and responsiblities here included maintenance of the current site, and the development of new sites using new technologies we, as a company, were exploring. It was then that I started working with Angular in a professional capacity for a while, before moving on and spending a few months learning React.
June 2018 - Sept 2020BSc Interactive Media
Student
The culmination of my education at Moray College was my BSc course in IM. It was during this year that I came across Angular for the first time, and started using that for my studies rather than HTML and CSS. Also during this year that I built Alba Cruises, a site for a fictional company that I am currently rebuilding in NextJS as part of my Portfolio. I also continued my work in Illustrator and Photoshop, along with 3D animation and video editing techniques in Adobe Premiere Pro.
Sept 2018 - June 2019The Football Pools
Software Engineer
In September 2020 I was promoted from a Graduate Developer to a Software Engineer. I remained within the front end team, but my role shifted slightly, away from React and towards the maintenance and day-to-day running of one of the companies biggest sites, via a CMS called Custodian. This CMS uses HTML and CSS, and I worked with this system for over a year. My role eventually expanded to include maintenance of several subsites, built with a variety of technologies, including .Net Core, Razor Pages/C# and Angular. In 2021 I resumed my training with React, whilst maintaining and developing new features using NextJS. I also kept my previous duties, maintaining the other sites with C# and Angular. I was also in continous contact with other teams, such as the creative and backend teams, to continue to deliver the optimal user experience.
Sept 2020 - June 2023The Football Pools
Senior Software Engineer
In June 2023 I was promoted to a Senior Software Engineer within the front end team. With this promotion, I took on more responsibility within the team, and the wider technology team within the company. Whilst keeping my previous responsibilities, as part of my new role I now work closely with the technical lead in the day to day planning and operations within the front end team, whilst also occasionally taking on their role and responsibilities in their absence. I am also now vocal in planning sessions for new features on the website. This can include giving estimations on how long a piece of work may take and collaborating on work with the front end, back end and creative teams. My time at The Pools came to an end in May 24 when the technology team was restructured and my role no longer existed.
June 2023 - May 2024Insights
React Engineer
My current role is now working as a React Engineer with Insights. Working as part of a cross-team squad rather than a dedicated FE team, this is a little different to my previous role. However, I am very excited about my new role here and I am looking forward immensely to what this opportunity has in store.
October 2024 - Present