diff --git a/lib/catnip/visualisation.py b/lib/catnip/visualisation.py
index 714940a..9d7bc26 100644
--- a/lib/catnip/visualisation.py
+++ b/lib/catnip/visualisation.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 
 import matplotlib
+
 matplotlib.use("Agg")
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import iris.quickplot as qplt
@@ -39,8 +40,12 @@
 import iris
 from catnip.analysis import linear_regress, ci_interval
 import numpy as np
+import cartopy.crs as ccrs
+
 
-def vector_plot(u_cube, v_cube, unrotate=False, npts=30, num_plot=111, title=""):
+def vector_plot(
+    u_cube, v_cube, unrotate=False, npts=30, num_plot=111, title="", projection=None
+):
     """
     A plotting function to produce a quick wind
     vector plot. Output is a plot with windspeed
@@ -64,14 +69,8 @@ def vector_plot(u_cube, v_cube, unrotate=False, npts=30, num_plot=111, title="")
     """
 
     # x and y coords
-    try:
-        x = u_cube.coord(axis="x")
-    except iris.exceptions.CoordinateNotFoundError:
-        print("Error: more than one x coord found")
-    try:
-        y = u_cube.coord(axis="y")
-    except iris.exceptions.CoordinateNotFoundError:
-        print("Error: more than one y coord found")
+    x = u_cube.coord(axis="x")
+    y = u_cube.coord(axis="y")
 
     # if the wind vectors need to be unrotated
     # they are in the statement below
@@ -92,19 +91,32 @@ def vector_plot(u_cube, v_cube, unrotate=False, npts=30, num_plot=111, title="")
     windspeed_cube = (u_cube ** 2 + v_cube ** 2) ** 0.5
 
     # plot
-    transform = x.coord_system.as_cartopy_projection()
-    # use coord_system of input data to define plot projection
-    ax = plt.subplot(num_plot, projection=transform)
+    # use coord_system of input data to define plot projection if not specified by user
+    if projection is None:
+        if x.coord_system is None:
+            projection = ccrs.PlateCarree()
+        else:
+            projection = x.coord_system.as_cartopy_projection()
+
+    # the original crs of the data is needed for quiver plot and setting extents
+    if x.coord_system is None:
+        print("No crs found, assuming PlateCarree")
+        orig_crs = ccrs.PlateCarree()
+    else:
+        orig_crs = x.coord_system.as_cartopy_projection()
+
+    ax = plt.subplot(num_plot, projection=projection)
     qplt.contourf(windspeed_cube, 20)
     ax.quiver(
         u_cube.coord(x.standard_name).points[::npts],
         v_cube.coord(y.standard_name).points[::npts],
         u_cube.data[::npts, ::npts],
         v_cube.data[::npts, ::npts],
+        transform=orig_crs,
     )
     # OTHER OPTIONS FOR QUIVER: scale = 1, headwidth = 3, width = 0.0015)
     ax.coastlines()
-    ax.set_extent([x.points[0], x.points[-1], y.points[0], y.points[-1]], transform)
+    ax.set_extent([x.points[0], x.points[-1], y.points[0], y.points[-1]], crs=orig_crs)
     plt.title(title)
     print("plot {} created".format(title))