Hamish was encouraged into acting as a profession by Julie Vigano, director of ambitious annual dramas at Devonshire House prep-school in Hampstead, London. That led to Saturday classes with Bruce Wooding & others at the Central School of Speech & Drama, inspired direction from Misty Sutton-Price at Portland Place School, a few productions for Hampstead Theatre's Heat & Light youth group, 2 years in Arts Ed Pupils School (Chiswick), and parallel input from John Hoggarth, Paul Roseby et al from the National Youth Theatre (NYT).

His 3 year BA course in Arts Ed School of Drama culminated in showcase performances of "Cause Celebre" (alongside the wonderfully named Tuppence Middleton) & "the Lights", followed by his final performance for the NYT as a young Edward Heath in their original production of "Tory Boyz" - interrupted by a call to play his 1st professional role as an officer cadet in the BBC4 WWI drama "Walter's War".