My grandfather could take a picture. I have two of his photographs on my wall, selected from his many images taken whilst in the Royal Flying Corp in 1918 through to his time surveying in East Africa in the 1930's and beyond. My father liked to carry a camera too, mainly to record trucks and trailers he made and sold or others from around the world he would later emulate.
No doubt that this was the influence that started me off when I was eighteen and looking for a career path. Three years spent at the brilliant Gloucester College of Arts (as was) and another two years assisting some gifted photographers in London enabled me to set up my own studio as a 'still life' photographer.
I had my Rosebery Avenue studio for twenty years and over that time was blessed with stimulating work for Gallaher (Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut etc), Carlsberg Tetley, Merlin (Alton Towers, Sea-life Centres, Legoland, London Dungeon etc) and United Distillers. At the same time I was shooting for the Tony Stone photo library which was bought by Getty Images just as the World Wide Web emerged and the stock library market exploded.
Now I work from a purpose built studio at home near Esher in Surrey, mainly shooting headshots for talent agencies that represent youngsters who want a career in the performing arts.
Regrettably, for a long time I stopped taking photographs outside of my studio commissions; largely because the bulky Hasselblad I use in the studio is not conducive to carrying on long days out on foot or for quick fire moments on the street. I have turned full circle though, and now have a lightweight system that I can use on day trips or long weekends away taking photographs of whatever catches my eye just as I did when I first started taking photographs. I don't have a 'style'. I simply like making images of any kind if I see something when I'm out and about or when I revert to being a 'still lifer' and assemble something in the studio. In my Print section you can find some photographs that I would have and do have on my walls at home which can be bought as prints. Other images in my Archive section can be ordered too. If you ping me a message I'll be happy to answer any queries regarding print sizes, print papers and framing suggestions. And lastly, I thought I'd include a list of photographers whose work has recently influenced me.
William Eggleston
Robbie Lawrence
Jack Davison
Francesco Gioia
Brett Walker
and of course Jessica Ellis