Born in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, West began his career in 1981 when he became an assistant film Editor with the BBC in London. His heart wasn't in film editing, so he left the BBC after four years to become a freelance Director.
West's career took off in 1985 when he was awarded a grant from the Arts Council of Great Britain to write and direct the film entitled Dolly Mixtures. He was subsequently signed to Limelight London to direct music videos and commercials. In 1987 he won Best Video at the Montreux Music Festival for Mel and Kim's Respectable. He also directed the video for Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" in the same year.
West directed the crime thriller film Wild Card with Jason Statham. It filmed in New Orleans and is a remake of the 1986 film Heat, based on the novel of the same name by William Goldman.
With a flourishing commercial career, West relocated to Los Angeles offices of Limelight in 1991. Moving to Pilot pictures in 1992, he received a Clio Award for Little Caesar's Airplane and a Golden Lion Award for Little Caesar's "Italian Feast."
West joined Propaganda Films in 1993 with a roster of credits including McDonald's, Sprite, AT&T, Ford, Miller Beer and Budweiser. His most famous commercial was a spot for Pepsi where a little boy sucks himself into a Pepsi bottle. The ad ran during the Super Bowl and was USA Today's highest rated commercial for that year.
In 1997, he directed the international blockbuster Con Air for Jerry Bruckheimer starring Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich and followed that up in 1999 with The General's Daughter starring John Travolta.
In 2001, he directed Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie.
In 2003, he was credited as an executive Producer for the critically acclaimed Fox show, Keen Eddie, also serving as Director for the pilot and second episode.
In 2005, he directed the pilot for the Jerry Bruckheimer produced CBS show Close to Home.
In 2006, he directed the Screen Gems thriller, When a Stranger Calls.
West directed The Expendables 2, replacing the first film's Director, Sylvester Stallone, with Stallone focusing on acting in and writing the film. Filming began in Summer 2011. West directed Nicolas Cage in the film Stolen in 2012.
In January 2015 he replaced Rob Zombie as Director of the upcoming remake of The Blob.
In 2017 West directed his first feature musical comedy Gun Shy starring Antonio Banderas. Based on the novel Salty by Mark Haskhell Smith, West told Film Daily he bought the rights to the book for a bottle of tequila.
