Thanks to my Dad, who was a keen amateur photographer, I grew up with an enthusiastic interest in photography, using the down stairs toilet to process and print my first black and white images. I loved, even at this early stage, how you could play around with the reality of an image, from the moment the light hits the film to later on in the darkroom, the simplest of actions could change the viewers perspective of the image and this fascination has stayed with me all my life. 

For the past 35 years I have worked as a medical photographer, where the accuracy of recording reality is paramount, illustrating a condition to a clinician has been a good companion for my personal work.

Now, with the diversity within the medium being so vast and exciting, it’s time to pursue my own passion for capturing ideas rather than reality. So I've made the leap from medical to composite photographer.

I create my images with multiple photographs, blending together textures, landscapes and still life images, these are then digitally processed and designed for box framing. I hand print them using pigmented inks on premium lustre and matte papers with UV and gaseous archival protection. They are designed with their own individual border created by folding a 230gsm matte paper to form a window, perfect for the box frame. The sheen and vibrancy of the 300gsm lustre paper contrasts beautifully with the muted tones of the matte, creating a subtle 3D effect, which is further enhanced with the framing.

I think of the computer screen as an empty stage, waiting for the scene to be set and the story to unfold. Once I have an idea, often inspired by my environment or current issues, I start gathering the images I need. This often requires researching habitats, waiting months for seasonal changes and plants to come into flower. I also enjoy working with symbolism, which can also create its own unique challenges.

I would like to think that my images create a space that the viewers imagination can explore.

For the past few years I have been exhibiting through the Perthshire Open Studios developing my ideas and portfolio. The handcrafted books have evolved from this journey, it’s such a tactile process and allows the viewing experience to be a little more personal.