Rob Ives was born in Harrogate in the UK in 1962.After ten years as a classroom teacher Rob began designing models made from cardboard. At a mathematics conference he was asked by a publisher, who saw one of his models, if he could create a book of models for them. The result was called Paper Locksmith, a collection of working locks to cut out and make. Paper Automata was the next book Rob produced for Tarquin Publications and it is still in print and has been printed in a number of languages. At around this time Rob tried producing his own models, the first of these being Surfin’ the Web and Mexican Peck. Over the years he has created more models and is now working full time as a designer. He has two websites, www.flying-pig.co.uk from where he distributes printed kits and www.robives.com, a download based website. He often visits schools and teacher’s courses to talk about paper engineering and design technology. Rob lives in Cumbria UK.