Feeling at Home

Jubilee (Darwen) Tower - Taken from 

Remnants.

For nearly as long as I can remember I have had a love for high places.  In essence it's not just a love of hills and mountains but more in particular Lancashire hills.

It began when I was a teenager.  I would get home from school, blow off homework grab my trusty spotted companion (a dalmatian named Billy) and head for the moors.  I loved the walk through the wooded valley and up past the reservoir before striding out on to the open moorland which is home to Darwen Tower.  Billy loved it too.  We spent hours and hours up there just wondering, sitting by moorland streams, listening to Skylarks and generally watching the world go by.

Even as I grew up that love didn't die.  In fact it grew deeper as I joined Lancashire Countryside Service as a Volunteer Ranger and eventually working full time.  Funnily enough, it was the same hills that I wondered as a boy that I now worked as a man.  Sometimes, Billy would be with me too.

The Ranger Service broadened my knowledge of the hills and sent me to other areas to explore, firstly in the West Pennine Moors and Rossendale, then the South Bowland Fells along with Clougha to the far North finally settling in Central Lancashire and becoming intimate with Pendle, Boulsworth and the hills surrounding the Wycoller Valley.

I do love the Lake District, I love North Wales even more but there is nowhere like my home turf.

What has this got to do with photography?  Everything.  I produce my best work when I'm working in Lancashire.  Why?  I think its because I love it or that I know it as well as anyone else.  Maybe it's just because I'm fascinated and amazed by it.  Perhaps its a life long love affair.

Some places I am really drawn to.  One of these is known as Walton Spire.  The Spire sits on Knave Hill high above the towns of Nelson and Colne in Lancashire, is directly between both Pendle and Boulsworth Hills and is in close proximity to the site Castercliffe Hill Fort.

Knave Hill is a bit strange.  It is my opinion (and also that of others) that the hill is man made.  Looking at aerial photographs it is possible to identify concentric rings of terracing that appear to be the construction of the hill.  However, the site has another feature in the Spire it self.  The bottom part of the cross is an ancient stone monolith that would have probably acted as a marker for travelers on the trade route from the Irish Sea to the North Sea or vice versa.  It is possible that the monolith could be somewhere in the region of 4,500 years old although some legends say that it was erected in rememberance of the Battle of Brunanburh in 937.  The top of the spire was added in the 1830's by Richard Thomas Wroe-Walton a local gentleman with strong religious values who live in Marsden Old Hall that still stands in nearby Marsden Park.

What ever the reason or how ever old the Spire is.  I can't help being drawn to the place.  Earlier this week I went up there in the snow and got some lovely pictures of it while enjoying a bit of pleasant if not cold weather!  Even the sheep seemed happy to be there.

From This Point Back - Exhibition Ends

Friday saw the end of my first solo exhibition, From This Point Back.  It was quite nerve racking but quite a few people went through and it was nice to read some of their comments on the visitor sheets.

It's going to be of a quiet time over the next few weeks as I reflect on the exhibition and begin putting together and finishing off Remnants.  I may even look at doing another exhibition at Marsden Old Hall.  I have to admit in the end it turned out to be quite a nice venue for it!  Watch this space!

From This Point Back - Day Two

Early start this morning!

I had to pick up some prints for a client so it was off to the lab almost before the sun was up!

As part of the order I had some of my other stuff attached to the order.  I'm really impressed with the print quality so I have added them to the exhibition first thing this morning!

As day one draws to a close - From This Point Back News

Day one of my From This Point Back exhibition at Marsden Old Hall has now come to an end.  I couldn't tell you how many visits there have been as I have not been around all day and no one has signed visitor sheets.  I did see a few people go in so I'm quite chuffed.

There is a definate worry that no will go and see it but that hasn't happend.  We shall see what tomorrow brings!

Exhibition Opens Today!

My first solo exhibition, From This Point Back opens this morning at Marsden Old Hall, Marsden Park, Walton Lane, Nelson.  BB9 8BW.  I'm a little bit nervous and excitied at the same time!

It's open from 9am to 5pm and features loads of work from the last few years including elements from Remnants, Nightmares & Dreamscapes and my usual ecclectic stuff.

Exhibition News

Today has been an extremely busy day.  I have been preparing for my first solo exhibition From This Point Back.

The exhibition is a look back at some of the images I have created and a look forward to those projects that are yet to be completed.

Included in the exhibition are images from the Remnants and Nightmares & Dreamscapes series as well as an eclectic mix including landscapes, natural history, fine art and street photography.

The exhibition runs from Monday 21st November to Friday 25th November and is open from 9am to 5pm at Marsden Old Hall, Marsden Park, Walton Lane, Nelson.  BB9 8BW.