A little bit about me
Based in a quiet corner of North Warwickshire, my love for photography and equestrian sports began from an early age.
Having spent all my childhood in rural North Warwickshire nestled between several farms, I was often found admiring the Pointer’s at a nearby farm. Fascinated by the beautiful silhouettes that Thoroughbred’s create at full flight, I was soon taken with capturing this beautiful on film.
And so there it started, with my trusty white Minolta compact camera I’d set off up and down the country with family or even in the farmer’s old DAF horsebox following the point to point race meetings and capturing images of my favourite steeds.
The photo that changed it all…
Oliver Townend & Armada, Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials September 2015
I’ve always headed to Burghley for as long as I can remember, and September 2015 was no exception. Burghley, in my eyes, is the best four-star (Now CIC5*-L to be correct) challenge in the world and the result of this is huge crowds come to watch the best athletes tackle Captain Mark Phillips course.
With crowds many deep approaching the Lion Bridge I tried my best to get a good spot. But whilst good photographers make the most of conditions, I’ll be eternally grateful to the kind American, who on hearing that one of the last competitors had left the start box, he turned towards his wife but caught glance of me and my woefully inadequate height and said hey little lady come stand in front of me.
I’d been lucky enough to come runner up in Horse and Hound’s Eventing Photography competition in 2015, not bad for my first attempt, but I was thrilled to get a call to say my Armada photo had won the 2016 competition – and my prize was to attend Badminton 2017 as an accredited photographer! This started me on my ‘official’ photo journey.
As a result of this win, I was invited to photograph for Eventing Worldwide, covering events up and down the UK capturing photos for their weekly Event Reports. Having spent three seasons with Eventing Worldwide, gaining valuable experience, I have now ventured into the Freelance Sports Photographer world, working for great publications such as Horse & Hound and Insights Magazine, whilst building up an exciting portfolio of commercial clients too. I have also been honoured to work as Press Photographer for Bicton 4* and 5*, Festival of British Eventing, Osberton Young Horse Championships as well as Hickstead Derby & RIHS meetings.
My photography has taken me to some amazing places; from the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, the foothills of the French Pyrenees, the serenity of the Polish countryside and just about everywhere in between!
When not behind the camera, I can be found indulging her other eventing passion which is fence judging, a brilliant adventure that has made me some lifelong friends & taken me to places I’d only ever dreamed off when I started out a few seasons ago. Volunteering is an amazingly easy way to enjoy sport – give it a go!