Hi, I'm Ian, a web designer & developer based in Brighton & Hove, working globally.

Since 2006, I've worked with individuals and businesses to establish and develop their online presence. I design and build each website myself, and continue to look after many of them long after they launch.

Work with me See recent work

Website design & development

New websites from £1500

WordPress websites
The internet's most popular CMS. Reimagined by extending it to fit your requirements, with custom themes and bespoke plugin development.
Bespoke websites
When WordPress isn't quite enough. Bespoke builds make design and management much easier, with greater flexibility in both design and functionality.
Web Development
Web applications, PWAs and iOS apps. Booking engines, CMS portals, ecommerce with online payments, and anything else you can imagine.
Care Plans
Your site kept secure, backed up and supported on a managed, dedicated UK server, with disaster recovery included. Complete adds account-level support, from WordPress updates to email and configuration.
WordPress Updates
Included in the Complete Care Plan. Core, plugin and theme updates on a set schedule, with a full backup before every round and a free rollback if an update breaks the site.
SEO
Full site reviews covering technical and content issues, with a bespoke plan built around your designated search phrases.

Recent web design & development projects

A few of the things I've designed, built and shipped recently.

Digital membership card shown in a phone wallet app

Photography web site shown on a mobile phone

Lanzarote Waits for You website shown on a desktop monitor

A complete rewrite of the membership checkout process and introduction of a membership digital wallet and bailiff app to verify memberships at the waters edge. Works with online and offline access.

Custom Build · Stripe · Care Plan

A fast and flexible, custom-built ecommerce platform for creating multiple online stores with secure Stripe checkout and simple order management.

Custom build · Stripe · Care Plan

Fully self-managed photography web site design built with the intention to showcase stunning image collections.

Design · Development

A bespoke community site for Lanzarote enthusiasts and residents, with a forum and content management system for publishing island news and guides.

Design · Development · Care Plan

Long term partnership working with Retreat Villas to provide a functional, flexible and easy to use website for Holiday Property Management and Guest Reservations.

Design · Development · Care Plan

Themes, plugins, fixes and ongoing care for WordPress sites of every size.

Client feedback

What clients say

“Our WordPress site had several persistent issues that others had struggled to resolve. Ian identified the causes straight away and fixed everything smoothly.”

A AlexGI Ace Programme, University of Sussex
“Way beyond websites, this is online software never been done before. Wish I had more projects to give you as it's refreshing.”

AS Alex SassSass Consulting
“Very quick response times. A delight to work with and great value.”

V VickyResort Solutions
“The whole process has been smooth and Ian has been incredibly patient with my endless questions.”

N NolitaLanzarote Waits for You
“Easy to work with and very aware of the task in hand. Meets deadlines and 100% recommended.”

D DaveTravelON World
“Ian has been a superstar helping to get my site launched. You can't go wrong using this guy.”

M MartinGospel of Thomas
“Web Design by Ian has created a fabulous website for our fishing club, there has been a significant surge in interest and membership since the site went live and feedback has been tremendous.”

AM Andy MaskereyFenton & District Angling Society
“Ian provides an excellent service. He explains all the different options, offering ideas and solutions, in laymen's terms when necessary! We would definitely recommend Ian.”

R RachelClub Las Calas
“Ian is always on hand to help whenever I have problems and takes the time to explain and correct any issues I encounter. Highly recommended.”

J JodiePlaya Blanca Property Services
“There is a ‘togetherness’ about the way that Ian approaches each website. I would have no hesitation in recommending Ian Sheldon for his superb qualities as a website designer … and as a person.”

KD Kevin DonovanThe Puttalite Company
“We had an issue with our 4 websites which were slow and underperforming. We contacted Ian who migrated them all seamlessly across to a new platform and made changes to significantly improve the speed and performance of all sites.”

SW Simon Warman-Freed
“Professional designer with abundant knowledge in everything digital, very rare to find a techie with visually pleasing projects and full of ideas and creativity.”

CS Carla Slyvester
“Can't fault Ian! I contacted him to ask if he could create us a simple website for our charity and he got straight onto it, 24hrs later we are up and running and helping lots of people out! Can't thank him enough!”

KM Katy Mawson
“Ian has supported my business for fourteen years now with all things IT. Always responsive, always provides a solution and always gives the best advice in a language I can understand.”

SM Steve MarriottSteve Marriott Coaching

After launch

Care Plans

With a Care Plan, the server your website runs on is looked after for you. The software is kept up to date as security fixes are released, and your website is backed up each night to two separate locations. Should the hardware fail, you get the peace of mind that your website is restored from the latest backup.

Compare Care Plans

Core

Server faults, security, backups and disaster recovery covered.

£49 per month

or £499 a year

Complete

Everything in Core, plus account-level support, including WordPress updates, email setup and troubleshooting, configuration, optimisation and more.

£110 per month

or £1,119 a year

A charity or not-for-profit? Core is available for £350 a year.

About Me

Twenty Years and Counting

I've been designing and building websites since 2006, from WordPress sites to fully bespoke web applications, for individuals and businesses around the world.

Originally from Staffordshire, I spent nine years in Lanzarote before settling in Brighton & Hove. I run a one-person studio and handle every project personally, giving it the focus and attention to detail it deserves.

Who I work with

Friends

Sass Consulting Alex Sass Alex has worked in digital for about thirty years, with a data-centric approach to running agencies and building businesses. These days he works with companies whose marketing is busy but not efficient. Converse, BMW and adidas are on his list, among other global brands.

When your requirements go beyond a website and your goal is to grow the business, Alex is my recommended choice.

Rosie the office dog, in front of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton

Office companion Rosie Sniffing out opportunities and chief tester (of treats).

Frequently asked questions

How much does a new website cost?

New websites start from £1,500. The exact price depends on whether you need a WordPress build or something fully bespoke. As each project is completely unique, get in touch and I'll give you a clear quote before any work begins.

What are the real costs of a website?

There are two parts to it. The upfront cost covers planning, design and development time, usually split as 50% before work begins and 50% on completion, though this can vary for larger projects, which may instead be broken into milestone payments. After launch, there are ongoing running costs: hosting and support through a Care Plan, which can be paid monthly, every three or six months, or annually, and your domain name renewal, billed separately by the registrar (usually annually). I'll set all of this out clearly as part of your quote, so there are no surprises.

Can you manage my domain for me?

Yes - I can manage your domains for £99 per domain per year, plus registrar renewal fees.

Do you offer ongoing support after launch?

Yes - a Care Plan looks after your site after launch: a managed, dedicated UK server, security hardening and a firewall, nightly off-site backups, disaster recovery and personal support. Core starts at £49 a month. Complete (£110 a month) adds account-level support, including email setup and troubleshooting, configuration and optimisation, and access to your control panel. Complete also includes scheduled WordPress core, plugin and theme updates, with a backup before every round. Full details are on the Care Plans page.

WordPress or bespoke website design. Which do I need?

WordPress suits most businesses - it's flexible, well supported and easy to manage day to day. Bespoke development makes sense when your requirements go beyond what a CMS can comfortably handle, like a web application, online payments or a custom booking engine.

Can you help with SEO?

Yes - I offer full site reviews covering technical and content issues, along with a bespoke plan built around your designated search phrases.

How long does a typical project take?

It depends on the size and complexity of the project - a straightforward WordPress site is much quicker than a bespoke web application. I'll give you a realistic timeline as part of your quote, before anything is agreed.

Do you work with businesses outside Brighton?

Yes - while I'm based in Brighton & Hove, I work with clients across the UK, Lanzarote and beyond. Everything is handled remotely by email, video call and screen sharing.