Background
NHS work and years of independent web building
17 years of product and platform experience
Fast, beautiful, secure websites that turn visitors into clients.
Work directly with an experienced developer to launch a custom site built for conversion, search visibility, and long-term maintainability.
Named by a 3-year-old who loved blue dinosaurs. Built with senior-level engineering discipline.
My stack
Hover or tap each tool to see what it helps with.
About me
I am Ian Wickens. I live in Minster Lovell and run Velvet Dinosaur, a founder-led studio building bespoke websites and apps for businesses, charities, and organisations that want something carefully made and properly theirs.
Most of my professional career has been in the NHS, across medical equipment, clinical research, and governance. That background taught me how to work through complex problems, communicate clearly, and treat important work with care.
Alongside that, I spent years designing and building websites in an independent, hands-on way. That included rebuilding my own charity website several times, creating conference websites, helping friends with their sites, and following other self-directed projects wherever they led.
Velvet Dinosaur grew out of that path as I started leaving the NHS. It is built on real project work, practical problem solving, and a preference for making things properly rather than dressing them up.
You work directly with me from first conversation to launch. No templates. No page builders. No platform lock-in. Just well-built websites and apps, with full ownership when the work is done.
Builds
Bespoke websites, apps, and tailored CMS tools
Approach
Founder-led, direct, and technically rigorous
Services
I build bespoke websites and apps from the ground up. Some clients come with a clear brief. Others come with a knotty problem, an ageing site, or the start of an idea that needs shaping. I enjoy both, and I focus on turning that early uncertainty into something clear, useful, and well built.
Each project is shaped around your goals, your users, and how your organisation actually works. Everything is built from scratch, so nothing is borrowed from a previous client or squeezed into someone else's framework.
Content control
Sauro CMS
To give clients flexibility after launch, I built Sauro CMS: a founder-friendly editing system designed to stay simple while being tailored to each project. It keeps day-to-day content updates easy without forcing you into a generic platform model.
Drag and drop pages
Create and structure pages quickly with flexible section controls.
Simple editing
Update text, images, and video without touching code.
Visual theming
Adjust colors, spacing, and typography to match your brand system.
Cloud media library
Organize uploads in cloud folders for cleaner day-to-day management.
Built-in inbox and calendar
Manage enquiries and bookings in one connected workflow.
Secure and fast by default
SSL, off-site backups, authentication, and performance-focused delivery.
Verification layer
Built for a perfect score
Every build targets 100/100 across all Google PageSpeed Insights categories on desktop and mobile.
Performance
100
Google Lighthouse benchmark
Accessibility
100
Google Lighthouse benchmark
Best Practices
100
Google Lighthouse benchmark
SEO
100
Google Lighthouse benchmark
Pricing & process
Complete website package
£2,500
A fixed launch package for most small business websites. If your scope includes advanced functionality (for example bookings, portals, or custom integrations), it is scoped and quoted separately before build starts.
How payments work
Projects usually start with a 20% deposit, then milestone payments tied to agreed deliverables. Before development starts, scope, timeline, and deliverables are documented clearly so there are no surprises.
Core package scope
- Custom design and build tailored to your goals, audience, and offer.
- Up to 8 sections (single-page) or 8 standard pages mapped to your customer journey.
- SEO-ready structure with metadata, sitemap, indexing controls, and crawlable links.
- Performance optimisation for fast loading on mobile and desktop.
- Contact forms and core integrations (email, maps, and scheduling) configured and tested.
- Launch support, handover guidance, and clear next steps after go-live.
Launch essentials included
- Managed hosting and monitoring
- SSL security and daily off-site backups
- Email setup and DNS configuration
- Support portal access
- Domain migration support
- Full ownership of your domain, content, and website files
Hosting is £120/year after Year 1. Domain registration is not included and can be procured at cost price.
Get a fixed quote for your scopeDelivery process
- 01
Discovery
Week 1
Discovery and scope alignment
We align on goals, users, and scope before build starts so priorities are clear and delivery stays focused.
- 02
Design & build
Weeks 2-3
Design and build in active sprints
You get iterative progress updates, practical feedback loops, and visible momentum as core pages and flows come together.
- 03
Refinement
Week 4
Refinement and quality pass
We polish UX details, tighten copy, and complete technical quality checks to ensure the site is fast, stable, and conversion-ready.
- 04
Launch & support
Weeks 5-6
Launch with guided handover
The project goes live with post-launch support and clear handover guidance so you can manage content confidently after release.
Ownership model
Your website. Your way.
No lock-in contracts and no platform traps. You own your domain, content, and website code from day one, with access set up in your name so you stay in control.
If you ever decide to move providers, we support the migration with handover notes and practical help so your website and email continue running smoothly.
After Year 1
£120/year hosting
Ownership
100% yours
Migration path
Supported and smooth
Client review
Client review
“Phenomenal service and end result from a phenomenal chap. Ian went far beyond expectations and built a site that is user-friendly, strategic, and genuinely tailored to our audience.”
Faye Taylor
Founder, The Brave
View original reviewLet's build something valuable
Tell me about your project
Share your goals, current pain points, and timeline. You will hear back directly from Ian within one business day.
Questions people usually ask
Project enquiry
You'll hear directly from Ian with clear next steps.
Google rating
5.0 average from clients
Typical response
Within 1 business day
Quick chat on WhatsApp
Prefer chat first? WhatsApp is often the fastest route.