Personal Information

I am a freelance UK photographer based in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. I specialise in monochrome landscape, still-life and portrait photography as well as alternative or "old" processes. My fascination with photography began in 1975 and continued throughout my time at London's Chelsea School of Art.

My print preferences mean that I often have to prepare my own film and paper developers to get the type of "look" I favour. Each black and white print (or "silver-gelatin" print, to give the currently fashionable term) is hand-printed and it is fair to say that no two prints from the same negative are exactly alike. I see this as a characteristic of this "hand-made" process and I value it as such. I suppose that each print in an edition could be made to be absolutely identical by the use of machine processing or a semi-automated production line, but this is not my aim. I prefer to see the hand of the artist in a work of art and not the cold precision of a machine without a soul.

This "touch" is most evident, I feel, in prints made using alternative or old processes, such as cyanotypes, vandyke brownprints, bromoils, gum prints, etc. These delicate printing methods can produce truly unique images using materials and chemicals that were first used in the very early days of photography. In most of these processes, fine artists watercolour paper is hand-coated with a light-sensitive liquid which I prepare from raw chemicals. The majority of these processes then require printing-out in sunlight or UV light in an antique wood and glass printing frame. Truly beautiful images can be produced, often looking more painterly than photographic. These images are unique and cannot be exactly duplicated.

All the images displayed on this site are for sale and I am also available to undertake private commissions - please e-mail me.

I usually have a selection of 19th and early 20th century printing frames for sale along with other items of photographica please go here to see the current list or email me with your requirements.

PUBLISHING HISTORY

My photographs have been used in a large number of publications, on product packaging and promotional wares. Some examples are:

EXHIBITIONS

41st Essex Salon of Photography, November 2001.
The Alexander Gallery, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, September 2002.
Fountain Fine Art Gallery, Llandeilo, South Wales, November 2004.
The Neville Gallery, Canterbury, Kent, January 2005.

There is a semi-permanent exhibition of my work at the excellent Beambridge Hotel in Sampford Arundel, Nr. Wellington, Somerset, tel.: 01823 672223. It is run by the very friendly and hospitable Jan and John Phelps and is well worth a stay! They cater for conferences, parties and weddings and have very ample facilities including accomodation, restaurant and bars.