Custom WordPress design & development

Freelance WordPress designer and developer, London

Most WordPress sites look and feel like everyone else's. I design and build from scratch — combining 20+ years of experience with a process that puts your goals first, from initial idea through to launch and beyond.

  • No templates — your site is unique
  • No bloat — faster, cleaner performance
  • Built to grow — easy to expand later
Custom WordPress website design and development
01 — The difference

Not a theme. Not a page builder. A website built for you.

Most WordPress websites are built on off-the-shelf themes or drag-and-drop builders — which means they look like everyone else's, carry bloat you don't need, and are harder to evolve over time.

I design and build custom WordPress themes from scratch, tailored to your goals, your audience, and your identity.

02 — Freelance vs agency

One person. Full accountability.

Working with a freelancer isn't just a budget decision — it's a safer one. You know exactly who's doing the work, and nothing gets lost between people.

Template / page builder

Fast to set up. Looks like everyone else. Limited by what the theme allows.

Custom WordPress build

Designed around your goals. Unique to your brand. Built to grow with you.

Agency

Work gets handed between people. Things get lost in handovers. The person you brief may not be the person who builds your site.

Freelance specialist

You deal with one person throughout. Nothing gets missed, nothing gets lost. The person you talk to is the person doing the work.

03 — How your website takes shape

A process designed to keep you involved at every stage

From the first conversation to launch day — and beyond. Every project follows the same structured approach: understand, design, build, refine, launch.

01

Discovery

Every project starts with understanding your goals, your audience, and what success looks like for your business. This becomes the foundation everything else is built on.

02

Wireframing & design

Before any code is written, I create detailed wireframes and visual designs. These include interactive prototypes so you can click through and experience your site's layout and flow before development begins.

03

Development

With the design approved, I build a fully functional WordPress site on a private test environment. Clean, efficient code — built for performance, security, and ease of use.

04

Performance & SEO

Every site is optimised for speed, search engine visibility, and accessibility before it goes anywhere near a live URL. These aren't afterthoughts — they're built in from the start.

05

Easy content management

Your custom theme is built so that updating content is straightforward — no developer needed for day-to-day changes. You stay in control without worrying about breaking anything.

06

Launch & ongoing support

Go-live is the beginning, not the end. Optional support and maintenance keeps your site secure, up to date, and evolving as your business grows.

04 — What you get

What you'll end up with

  • A fast, modern website that reflects your business
  • Easy content editing — no developer needed day to day
  • A structure designed to convert visitors into enquiries
  • Content and design kept separate — so one never breaks the other
05 — Why it matters

Your website is doing a job. It should be built like it.

A lot of businesses end up with a website that looks fine but doesn't really work — not because of the platform, but because the design wasn't grounded in the right questions from the start. What do your customers need to see? What do you need them to do? What makes you different?

Good design isn't decoration. It's the difference between a site that converts and one that just exists.

With 20+ years of experience across design, development, and ongoing client relationships, I build websites that are thoughtful, performant, and genuinely useful — for you and your customers.

20+

years of experience across web design, development, and brand identity

5–8

weeks is a typical project timeline from first conversation to launch

0

off-the-shelf themes used — every site is designed and built from scratch

1

point of contact throughout — design, build, and support handled by the same person

06 — Investment

What does a project cost?

Every project is scoped individually — but here's a realistic guide to what different types of project typically involve. Get in touch and I'll give you a clear, honest picture of what your project would cost.

Establish your presence

For businesses that need a clear, well-built site that reflects who they are and gets the basics right from day one.

Best for small businesses or startups needing a solid, professional site.

  • Concept-led design process
  • Up to 8 content sections
  • Core page types designed & built
  • Performance & SEO optimisation
  • Easy content management
From £2,500+vat
Get a quote
Ongoing care

Already have a WordPress site? I can take it on and keep it secure, up to date, and evolving — whether I built it or not.

For anyone who wants their site looked after without thinking about it.

  • Maintenance & updates
  • Security monitoring
  • Design & dev support
  • New modules & features
  • Priority response
From £70+vat/mo
Let's talk

Not sure what you need? That's fine — most projects start with a conversation.

Get in touch and I'll help you figure out the right scope and approach for your goals, without any obligation.

07 — Questions

Things people usually ask

Can you update or redesign my existing WordPress site?

Yes — we'll start with a review of what's working and what isn't. Sometimes that means a full redesign; sometimes it's targeted improvements to specific areas. Either way, nothing changes without a conversation first.

How long does a project typically take?

Most projects take around 5–8 weeks from first conversation to launch. Larger or more complex builds may take longer — I'll give you a clear timeline before anything starts.

Will my site be mobile-friendly and fast?

Yes — mobile-first design and fast load times are part of every project, not optional extras.

Do you include SEO?

Yes — technical SEO is built in from the start: clean markup, fast load times, and proper setup with Rank Math. It's a solid foundation — not a guarantee of rankings, but the right place to start.

Will I be able to update the site myself?

Yes — every site is built for easy content editing. I'll walk you through it before handover, and I'm always on hand if you get stuck.

Can you help with branding or logo design?

Yes — I work on brand identity as well as websites: logo, colour palette, typography, and usage guidelines. I can also handle print and digital materials alongside a web project.

Do you work with agencies as well as direct clients?

Yes — I work as a freelance resource for agencies as well as directly with businesses. Get in touch and we can talk through how that might work.

08 — Get in touch

Tell me about your project

Not sure what you need? I'll talk you through it — no pressure, no jargon. Just an honest conversation about what's possible and what it would take.

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