Martin F Bedford grew up in Gravesend, Kent,and after spending a year at Canterbury Art College, moved to Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in 1975 to attend the now defunct Psalter Lane Art College.

While completing his degree course in Fine Art, he spent much of the 3 years working with bands and touring with punk bands as a photographer.

On leaving college he worked for a short period as a graphic designer at Sheffield University, before becoming a founder member of The Leadmill.

Formed by a disperate group of idealistic hippies, punks and ne'er-do-wells, as a co-operative Arts venue, it first opened its doors to the public on May 23, 1980.  For 12 years Martin provided the public face of The Leadmill through almost 2000 posters, fliers, murals and promotional graphics.

At the same time he was also working as a freelance illustrator/graphic designer and exhibiting his paintings in the USA and Europe.

In 1990 he was guest of honour at the Soviet Union Artist Union poster exhibition in Odessa, Ukraine and travelled through Russia, Ukraine and Georgia.

In 1992  he designed and directed a multi-media show 'Songs of Antlers' which brought together over 30 artists, musicians and performers from the UK, Russia, France, Holland, Canada and the USA.

For 3 years between 1991-4, he ran a mail order business 'Stuff 'n' Nonsense' supplying badges,t-shirts, books and stickers to the juggling fraternity. 'Surprisingly good fun'

In 1994 he left the Leadmill studio and set up The Loft with Keith Lauchlan, Chris Cooper and Jimmy Stone. During this period he designed club decor and installations and began promoting events on a regular basis.

In 1995 he designed and directed the Glastonbury Festival 25th Anniversay Celebrations, taking a crew of almost 100 from Sheffield & far flung outposts in Scotland and the west country, and the following year The Loft designed the Sven Vath 'Coccoon' European Tour.

Since then he has managed and promoted bands and venues, pubs and clubs, while continuing to work as a poster designer, illustrator,photographer and artist.

Recently (October 2008) he has worked with the Firehouse Kustom RockArt Company in San Francisco, where he designed posters for the Warfield Theatre and fullfilled a life-long ambition of 'taking coals to Newcastle'.

He lives in Sheffield with his girlfriend Nicky and their dog Fly.