WordPress Web Design for Peter D Riley
WordPress Web Design for Peter D Riley
Award-Winning Children's Science Author
A fresh website, vibrant branding and ongoing digital marketing to help a lifelong love of science reach the next generation.
Some clients come to us looking for a new website. Others need someone they can trust to look after everything that comes with it. When award-winning children's science author Peter D Riley approached CMS Live, he needed both.
Peter has spent a lifetime making science accessible and enjoyable. With more than 200 books to his name, written for children, teachers and parents, he has inspired generations to explore the world around them. Now in his eighties, he has no plans to put his feet up just yet!
From running science workshops in primary schools, forest schools and for Scouts and Guides, to sharing nature videos and science experiments with his grandchildren, Peter has plenty more to give.
Since February 2025, we've worked with Peter to refresh his website, develop his branding and support several exciting projects. Here's how we've helped him bring his work together online.
CMS Live are excellent web specialists. They took my ten-year-old website in need of attention and transformed it into a bright, lively and engaging new website which fulfils its double functionality of promoting my science books and science educational work around the world. They are totally on my wavelength, so that, in addition to creating the new website, we have enhanced it with videos (even using a drone) and an ongoing social media programme of Facebook and Instagram from which we can study analytics to feed back into future projects.
They are quick to communicate, offer advice and work creatively with ideas I send in. Their support in my website's quest of 'Taking Science Education across the World' has been invaluable.
A website and support he could rely on
Peter's previous website was built in 2020 by a friend who wanted a project to work on during lockdown. It had a solid SEO foundation, but over time, the design had started to look dated and the website had become slow.
With his friend returning to work, Peter needed someone to take over the website and its ongoing care. Just as importantly, he wanted someone trustworthy who would take the time to explain things, offer advice and build a lasting relationship with him and his wife.
That's where we came in.
At CMS Live, we believe good web design is about more than how a website looks. It's also about understanding the person behind the business, making technology easier to manage and being there when help is needed.
We rebuilt Peter's website in WordPress with a fresh, vibrant colour palette, updated his logo and created a more consistent brand. We also provided fully managed, fast hosting, ongoing technical support and help with the marketing and content projects that followed.
The result is a stronger online presence that reflects Peter's personality, celebrates his work and gives him room to keep creating.
Project 1: Cambridge Checkpoint Lower Secondary Science Books
Helping teachers discover a different approach to science
Peter has authored a wide range of educational books, including the Cambridge Checkpoint Lower Secondary Science series. The aim of this project was to put these books in front of teachers looking for fresh resources to support their science teaching.
We developed an SEO, video and online marketing campaign to raise awareness of the books and help them reach a relevant audience.
Our work focused on improving online visibility, creating engaging content and making it easier for teachers to discover the resources available to them.
By combining search engine optimisation with video and digital marketing, we helped give these important educational resources more opportunities to be seen.
Project 2: Patch on the Planet
Encouraging children to discover nature on their doorstep
Peter owns a patch of remote land that he has dedicated to nature. He manages it to keep the land accessible without losing its natural character, giving him the opportunity to observe the changing flora, fauna, birds and other wildlife throughout the year.
He wanted to share these observations through four seasonal videos, taking viewers on a journey through spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Martin brought his photography and drone skills to the project, capturing the landscape and its seasonal changes. We then edited the footage and uploaded the finished videos to Peter's YouTube channel.
The aim was simple: to get children interested in nature and encourage them to find their own little 'Patch on the Planet'.
With Peter's patch based in Lancashire, the project also celebrates the natural environment on our doorstep. You don't need an expedition to discover something fascinating. Sometimes, you just need to slow down and look a little closer.
Giving Patch on the Planet its own identity
As the project developed, it became clear that Patch on the Planet needed its own visual identity. I created a complementary logo featuring a planet, giving the project a recognisable brand while keeping it connected to Peter's wider work.
This gave us a consistent look for the videos and related content, helping the project stand apart while remaining part of the bigger picture.
Project 3: Science with Gramps
Making science fun for the next generation
Science with Gramps is a particularly lovely project because it comes directly from Peter's own family life.
Peter carries out science activities with his two granddaughters, sharing his knowledge through experiments, demonstrations and hands-on learning. He sends us photographs, videos and write-ups of what they've been doing, and we turn them into fun, accessible blog posts for his website.
We also manage the posts on social media, giving his followers more opportunities to enjoy the experiments and try ideas of their own.
It's a brilliant way to show that science isn't just something you learn in a classroom. It can be messy, surprising and great fun at home, too!
Bringing Gramps and the girls to life
As Science with Gramps grew, I created a distinctive visual identity for the project. This included family-friendly character avatars inspired by Peter and his granddaughters.
The characters proved incredibly popular. We've since been asked to create additional images featuring other children joining in with the experiments, helping each new blog post feel fresh and engaging.
To bring everything together, I also adapted Peter's main logo to incorporate Gramps and the world, connecting his individual projects through a more cohesive brand.
It's a lovely example of how a little creativity can help a long-established author connect with a new generation of curious minds.
A website that can grow with its owner
Peter's website is now part of a much bigger picture. It supports his books, educational work, nature projects and family science activities, giving visitors a central place to discover what he does.
Behind the scenes, we have focused on the practical things that make a website easier to run and more dependable.
For us, the aim isn't simply to build a website and wave goodbye. It's to give our clients confidence that someone is looking after the technical side, while helping them make the most of their online presence.
Peter's work continues to evolve, and we're delighted to be part of that journey.
Services Tailored to You
We understand that every business has unique needs.Therefore, we offer a flexible range of services across three main areas: Build, Support, and Grow.
Whether you're a business owner looking to establish an online presence, or a website owner in need of ongoing maintenance and marketing, you can choose the combination of services that best suits your needs.
Build
Our web design and graphic design services help you create a stunning and effective online presence.
Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to redesign your existing site, we ensure your vision comes to life.
Support
We offer reliable web hosting and comprehensive care plans to keep your website running smoothly.
Moreover, our support services ensure that your site remains secure, up-to-date, and performs at its best.
Grow
Our digital marketing services are designed to help your business reach new heights.
For example, from SEO to digital marketing, we have the expertise to boost your online visibility and drive more traffic to your site.