It has been a privilege to work at several events over the last few weeks, working hard to raise much needed funds for research into the causes and the cures for cancer. We have recently raised money for Bottoms Up, the fund for bowel cancer, as well as for breast cancer. Photography is a powerful tool to help others engaged in such crucial work and we are always willing to help where we can!

Every now and then you get the opportunity to work with an independent gallery. I recentlyt had the privilege to exhibit a small selection of my recent work at the ArtWaves Gallery in Burslem in Stoke-on-Trent. Only recently opened, the gallery is pushing to open up to the public artistic talent in the Potteries. Photography is only part of their remit, but has given me the chance to put on view some of my more recent work. I was also able to exhibit several pieces not seen in public before. I was deeply touched by the response with comments ranging from ’sensitive’ and ‘romantic’ to ‘gothic’  and ‘challenging’. Thank you to all who came to the show. For those who didn’t – well I’ll be looking to exhibit more work in more venues throughout 2009!

Open Highway

Sunday 14th September will be quite an occasion. It will be my first arts and craft market with Made in Shropshire. This organisation exists to promote artists and craftworkers from Shropshire. There are monthly markets in The Square in Shrewsbury and a growing numberof events around the county and further afield. Sunday’s market will be modest. It is the first time MIS have held the event. I’ll be there with a selection of limited edition, signed prints, all bargains just in time for the (early) Christmas rush!

The market takes place under the Guildhall between 10.00am and 4.00pm. I look forward to seeing you there.

It’s been a concern for sometime that not all the requirements of customers can be met on location. With this in mind Planet Vision now has studio space which will allow us to complete portrait, fashion, product and portfolio commissions to the most demanding brief. We have a mix of daylight and top of the range Broncolor lighting with a huge selection of accessories to create just the right lighting for each photograph.

The Drawing Room

An exhibition of 22 prints is now on view at The Drawing Room in Retford. All the images in the show are hand printed and are signed limited editions. Some of the images are being exhibited for the first time. All prints are for sale and are individually priced.

The Drawing Room is a top quality restaurant overlooking the market square in Retford in Nottinghamshire. For details of opening times call 01777 860077.

The Drawing Room, 22 The Square, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 6DQ.

The second phase of this exciting project will be taking place in Market Drayton on 13th August. A group of young people led by myself and Youth Worker Andy Haller on a walk around the countryside that surrounds the town, taking photographs, learning technique and then applying more Photoshop skills to the final images. The sessions are again funded by the Taste of the Town Company and will result in more public displays of the work of these amazing young people.

Following on from these projects, I’ve been invited to lead similar sessions in Whitchurch. These are funded by the County Council and planning is still at an early stage. Come back to learn more details as soon as they are finalised.

Asylum was a a unique performance at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent by the highly accomplished and creative Dance Loft. The performance featured over 100 dancers of all ages and was choreographed by Paul Williams-Fearns. I’ve worked with Dance Loft and the Rhythm Factory on a number of occasions and their style of hip hop, crunk and street is inspiring and is great subject matter for the photographer. The images have just been released to the Dance Loft and will be appearing here and on the web site soon.

There are now several signed and numbered limited editions of my work for sale at the SPACE Gallery in Ellesmere in Shropshire. Two of the pieces, ‘The Ruin’ and ‘The Undercroft’ have not been seen in public before. In fact they haven’t even made it on to the website yet! If you live in or around North Shropshire please visit the Gallery, it sells a huge range of art and craft works produced by people in Shropshire. There’s some remarkable work there and each sale helps the gallery’s work with young people with learning difficulties.

Well I promised a glimpse of some of the images from the 80s extravaganza. I know many out there will be interested – after all there were 10,000+ people at this particular gig!

Due to circumstances completely out of my control, the display I was to have between 19th and 26th July in the Darwin Centre in Shrewsbury has been cancelled. Please accept my apologies once again for any incovenience.