Arthur Potts Dawson (born 1971 in Camden, London) started cooking in 1988. He started with a three-year apprenticeship with the Roux brothers, worked with Rowley Leigh at Kensington Place for two years, with Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers at the River Café for four years, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Pierre Koffman both for a year. He worked as head chef at the River Café and went on to restyle Petersham Nurseries Cafe, re-launch Cecconi's restaurant, and to work as executive head chef for Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Restaurant.