Ricky Lowes has been teaching English since 1981. She is now a part-time teacher, examiner, teacher trainer, and textbook writer. She was born in London and grew up there, and still lives and works there. Ricky graduated with a degree in English from York University in 1981 and trained as a teacher, and immediately went to work in Spain, where she spent the following six years.

She returned to London in 1987 to study for an M.A. in TESOL at the Institute of Education under Professor Henry Widdowson. She then worked in variety of schools in the U.K. before becoming a lecturer at Waltham Forest College. She now works there and at the University of North London where she teaches on the International Foundation Program.

During a year's leave of absence from her post at Waltham Forest College, Ricky went to China to work on a project as the testing coordinator. Her particular interests are teaching pronunciation, teacher education and learner autonomy. She is also very interested in bilingualism and translation.