Chris O’Donoghue lives close to the sea at Pett Level, between Rye and Hastings. He was one of the original Rye Potters making ceramic cottages that were sold all over the world. He also provided pottery moulds for all the other Rye Potters as well as making a number of original models for the prestigious Rye Pottery.

He has written several crime novels based around Rye and Romney Marsh set in the 1950s. These have been well received and the renowned author, William Shaw has said of the books: ‘Seventy years before Alex Cupidi arrived at Dungeness, Chris O’Donoghue’s excellent, eccentric, pint-supping Inspector Sonny Russell was travelling the lanes of Romney Marsh in a police Wolseley, solving all manner of crimes. Out-of-the-ordinary and highly recommended.’

He has also designed numerous gardens across the southeast and has won three medals at the Chelsea Flower Show for gardens he designed and built.