[1] Born in Warrington, Lancashire, in 1952, Parker attended Strodes College, Egham and gained a BSc First Class Honours in Zoology at the University of Wales, Bangor.
[3] In 2009 he co-wrote The Complete Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils of the World, with John Farndon, (Lorenz Educational Press) In 2013 Parker's title Science Crazy (QED) won the UK School Library Association's Information Book Award,[4] and Fizzing Physics (QED) won the Hampshire Information Book Award.
[9] In 2015 Parker was general editor of Evolution: The Whole Story (Thames and Hudson), heading a team of 12 expert authors in paleontology, paleobiology and paleoecology.
[10] In 2016 Parker produced two of the largest and most complex titles of his career, Medicine: The Definitive Visual History (Dorling Kindersley),[11] and BODY: The infographic book of us (Aurum Press) with graphic designer, illustrator and academic Andrew Baker.
Parker travels extensively around Britain to hold talks, workshops and book signings at schools, libraries and science events.