Returning to live in England in 2019, I am constantly inspired by the ancient woodlands, chiselled chalk cliffs and coastal ports that surround me. Village life has always been a strong influence in my formative years having grown up in a market town of Hampshire, England. Surrounded by farming pastures, acreages of vegetable plots and coastal fishing ports nestled on the shorelines of the Solent,
all contributed to the narrative that is still evident in my images today. Largely self taught, I poured over film photography reference books and magazines of the time, but the real lessons were out in the field under different skies and changing seasons. It wasn't until 1989 that I took the plunge to hold my first exhibition. I had opened my own framing studio in 1987 and was persuaded by one of the artists I framed for to 'get my work out there'. It was a small but appreciative audience that bought my Kodak colour landscapes, marking the beginning of my journey as an exhibiting photographic artist. In 2000 I decided to study fine art silver gelatine print making, setting up my own dark room to prepare for a new exhibition moving away from landscapes to more urban street scenes. Six years later, my first black and white film photography exhibition entitled 'Landmarks 2041' was launched. Capturing the historical landmarks of the Harbourside village where I lived and worked in Sydney - the iconic sandstone terraces, old pubs and shopfronts endeared its character to the honesty of black and white. The collection of nearly 50 silver gelatine prints were all shot on Ilford film. I now live along the tranquil coastline of Hampshire on the Isle of Wight. Returning to my love for landscape photography in 2016, I debuted my collection of 'auto chromatic' land and seascapes at Quarr Abbey here on the Island in February 2020 entitled ' Feels Like Home'.
