Why I Took Up Photography and How I Got Here
In 2002, I moved to Kinsley, not far from the grounds of what was once Frickley Colliery. By then, the pit had already closed — on November 26th, 1993 — and while I never saw it in operation, I often heard stories of its legacy from those who did. What was left behind had been reshaped into something entirely new: a landscape reborn.
By 2009, it officially became Frickley Country Park, and in 2012, it was entrusted to The Land Trust. But my story with Frickley didn’t really begin until 2013.
That year, I suffered a stroke. It shook my world and left me facing both physical and emotional challenges. Walking became a vital part of my rehabilitation, and Frickley quickly became my route to recovery. Step by step, I rebuilt my strength and balance along its paths. But as healing slowly came, I realised I needed more than just walking — I needed something to give my days meaning.
That’s when I picked up a camera.
At first, it was simple: noticing the way mist sat over the hills, the call of a bird overhead, or how the evening light softened the park at sunset. But the more I photographed, the more I began to see. Frickley wasn’t just a place for recovery anymore — it became a sanctuary for my mental wellbeing, a space where I could reconnect with the world and with myself.
What started as part of my healing became something much greater: a passion. Through photography, I learned to slow down, to look closer, and to find beauty in the quiet moments that so often pass us by.
📸 Frickley landscape shot early morning in golden light. Available as Print here.
Since then, my journey has grown far beyond Frickley. My camera has taken me into woodlands, across coastlines, and into encounters with wildlife I never thought I’d experience so closely. I’ve photographed everything from the delicate patterns of nature to the powerful presence of a red stag — each image a reflection of not just what I saw, but how I felt in that moment.
📸 Red Stag. Available as a print here
Photography is now more than a creative outlet. It’s my reminder that beauty exists even in the quietest corners, waiting to be noticed. It’s also my way of sharing with others — so that even if someone doesn’t have time to stand at sunrise on a hill, they can still see the light, the stillness, and the life that’s always there.
Frickley’s story is one of transformation: from industry to nature, from hardship to renewal. In many ways, my journey has mirrored that same arc. And that’s why I keep returning, camera in hand — because it’s where my story with photography began.
📸 Sunset.
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