From Operating Theatres to the Big Screen: The Extraordinary Rise of Mike Davies

At 49, Mike Davies has lived several lifetimes’ worth of experience each one shaping a creative voice rooted in resilience, psychological depth, and raw human truth.

Born and raised in Ellesmere Port, Davies spent more than a decade working within NHS operating theatres, assisting in complex surgical procedures and witnessing the human condition at its most vulnerable. A devoted father of five, his life followed a path of service, discipline, and quiet endurance until everything changed.

A Life-Changing Fall

In 2023, a devastating fall fractured Davies’ spine, ending his career in hospital theatres and confining him to a wheelchair. Faced with sudden physical limitations, emotional strain, and an uncertain future, Davies turned to writing initially as a form of therapy a way to anchor himself as life shifted around him.

What began as a coping mechanism quickly evolved into a powerful new purpose.

The Birth of a Psychological Thriller Voice

Davies’ debut novel, The Veil of Silence, emerged as a dark, psychologically charged thriller that immediately distinguished itself. Drawing heavily on his medical background, the novel explores trauma, obsession, and the fragile boundaries between reality and delusion. The story follows Thomas Greene, a quiet surgical theatre support worker whose descent into madness unfolds with unnerving realism.

The novel struck a chord with readers and critics alike, earning awards for its intensity and narrative power, and marking Davies as an emerging voice in psychological fiction.

He followed this success with The Fractured Veil, a companion prequel that delves into the origins of the horror shaping Greene’s world. Centered on Mary, a single mother whose isolation and bitterness spiral into violence, the novel deepens the mythology of the series, transforming the books into an interconnected exploration of trauma and the human psyche.

Together, the novels form a gripping, unsettling examination of how pain echoes through lives and how silence can be as destructive as violence.

From Page to Screen: Dark Quill Films

With the success of his novels, Davies expanded his creative reach into filmmaking. He co-founded Dark Quill Films, partnering with filmmaker Paul Hughbanks to create atmospheric, thought-provoking cinema.

The screenplay adaptation of The Veil of Silence has already gained significant momentum, earning selections at over 11 international film festivals. Judges have praised the project for its cinematic potential, emotional depth, and haunting psychological realism. The film is currently in advanced development, bringing Davies closer than ever to seeing his story realized on screen.

A Journey Defined by Resilience

Mike Davies’ transformation from NHS operating theatre professional to award-winning author and film producer is nothing short of remarkable. What could have been the end of a career became the foundation of a creative legacy proof that adversity can fuel brilliance rather than extinguish it.

Through his writing, filmmaking, and unbreakable spirit, Davies demonstrates that even when life fractures, something extraordinary can emerge through the cracks.

His story is not simply one of survival, but of transformation an artist shaped by hardship, driven by passion, and destined to leave a lasting mark on both literature and film.