I make my home in a secluded Northumberland valley, a place where some of the world’s many faces converge. Here, amidst rolling fields and quiet lanes, I am surrounded by a vibrant cast: farmers with weathered hands, artists with restless eyes, newcomers seeking belonging, and old souls rooted in ancient soil. In our close -knit, rural world, these people became the fabric of my everyday life - familiar presences whose stories seemed to echo in every corner.

 

Longing to capture the humanity and nuance of these neighbors, I turned from landscapes to portraiture. The gentle security and warmth of home (literlally) made this new journey possible, softening the challenge of shifting my creative gaze. With my camera, I sought their stories - sometimes on location, other times in makeshift studios I fashioned in local pubs, where laughter and conversation set the backdrop.

 

My first "Home" project came together across 2013 and 2014, and I felt compelled to return in 2016 for "Home Again", drawn by the ever-changing tapestry of our community. Both projects found their place on the walls of our local gallery, celebrating the faces and lives that define our valley.