[1] As a teenager, he took adventure training holidays at Ty'n y Berth, a Wide Horizons centre in Wales, and he later became an advocate of providing disadvantaged children with such opportunities.

In 2006, he was in-house photographer for Total Politics magazine and also works for the Liberal Democrats, the London Wildlife Trust, other charities, and individuals.

[3] Russell became chairman of the Lewisham Liberal Democrats and went on to serve as a Liberal Democrat councillor for Forest Hill on Lewisham Borough Council from 2006 to 2010, chairing its Overview and Scrutiny committee.

[1] In the 2017 general election, he stood for the Liberal Democrats in Lewisham West and Penge, but Labour held the seat.

In 2022 he stood unsuccessfully for election to Lewisham London Borough Council.