Dan graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1998 with an honours degree in Archaeology, and began working for the Lancaster University Archaeological Unit in 1999, which became Oxford Archaeology North in 2001.

Dan ultimately became a project officer, and for over seven years worked on excavations, surveys, building investigations, desk-based assessments, and conservation and management plans. These have principally taken place in the North West, and Dan has a particular interest in the archaeology of the area. He has published a number of articles on aspects of archaeology and history in the region, details of which can be viewed at the Academia website.

At Greenlane Archaeology Dan is responsible for the management of projects and also carries out aspects of fieldwork and assessments where necessary. He is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.