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Born in and educated in East Yorkshire, Martin picked up and taught himself to play the acoustic guitar as a boy and by the 6th form at Longcroft School he'd formed a band called Diggory Venn. A four peice band doing covers. As the band reduced in size to a duo he started writing his own material.

Martin left school in 1974 and started work at Brown Brothers in Hull. A Christmas bonus from the company included one of the new Polaroid instant cameras. It was quite innovative at the time and saved the tedious wait for photographs to come back from the chemists. One of the first shots he took was of girlfriend, Isabel. He didn't think the relationship was going to last long and took the snap as a momento. Isabel was due shortly to leave for Scarborough College and he thought that would be the end of the relationship.

Isabel: Polaroid Girl

Around this time, Diggory Venn made many recordings at Fairview Studios including a song called, 'Polaroid Girl' based on the photo. Sadly the original recording hasn't survived as the tape has disintergrated and is now virtually unplayable. However, one thing that has survived isΜύ Martin and Isabel's relationship and this year they will be celebrating 30 years of marriage.

After recounting his story to us in the studio, Martin picked up his guitar and performed the song for the first time in years. You can hear his story and play the song using the links on this page.

Martin and Isabel

In the mid-seventies, Martin started working for MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) in Beverley, before moving to British Aerospace where many of his family members had also worked over the years. In the late seventies, his band still continued to perform and recorded an album. The early eighties found Martin still writing and performing in a solo capacity, and it wasn't too long before he was offered a residency with the Processed Pea at Etton. Writing two songs a week was something of a tough task which he rose to.

After one of the organisers left, he was invited to step into their shoes. The Processed Pea, although a small venue has attracted a number of star names including Labbi Siffre and Ray Dorset from Mungo Jerry who despite his international status as a performer always enjoys the relative calm of the Processed Pea as Martin can testify as he's in regular contact with him.

1997 saw Martin join The Press Association in Howden and it was around this time he became involved with the Cherry Burton Arts and from 1983 with the Beverley Folk festival, helping to organise volunteers amongst other things. In 2006Μύ he took on the role ofΜύ Marketing Officer for Beverley & East Riding Folk Festival and in the same year he joined the Adastra Music Agency. Adastra is one of the most respected agencies in the folk world.

Martin still plays music and also organises shows for Cherry Burton Arts, The Processed Pea and helps with the Beverley Festival. He enjoys encouraging local musicians to get out on stage and perform.