light and colour, was indeed infectious. We
never looked through a window without
gazing at the sky and discussing how many
different greys were present in the clouds
(we get a lot of grey clouds over Chorley!), or
walked under trees without stopping to watch
the movement of light. All of that said, how
it brought me to photography, I know not! I
dabbled with art at school but was employed
in the public sector, so did very little handson work until I purchased my first iPhone; this
I used to take pictures whilst out walking with
Edward (my 98-year-old Jack Russell Terrier), of
my surroundings. My first camera was provided
by my goddaughter on permanent loan, a Nikon
which I am ashamed to say I still do not know
how to use properly. But truly it was Snowdrop
Cottage that really caught my imagination.
Tell us more about the Snowdrop Cottage and
why it inspired your current style of photography?
Snowdrop Cottage was a tiny cottage in the
village where I grew up, and for as long as I
can remember it looked rundown, but in
later years appeared completely dilapidated
and abandoned. Then one day, I saw it was
surrounded by temporary fencing and bins
so I went over to have a look. The builders
on site explained that the cottage had been
inhabited by the same owner for over 60 years,
but had been condemned on health and
safety grounds, and was to be demolished.
Before the owner happily moved into a new
home, they had become more infirm and had
withdrawn into living in just one room, so until
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