This is my last year in Japan, and I planned to make the most of the Sakura this year. Last year, the season was rained short. This year it was 'sunned' short. It was so hot over the season that the blooms opened from tightly closed buds to full blooms within a day, in some places. After a week or so, the petals had all but fallen. All was left were the red empty stems before the green leaves would uncurl through. My son had his Easter break over the two weeks, so we spent ma

It happens sometimes. The disaster photography trip. It's my last Spring Sakura season here in Japan, and I really wanted to photograph the blossoms at Chureito Pagoda with Mount Fuji in the background. It's an iconic image, and I wanted my own version. It's very important to me to get my own photo, as it's a symbol that I was actually there. My memory preserved. Of course, I'm not such a fanatic that I ONLY take photos and don't sit and enjoy and absorb the memory of being i

I think I've developed a series with this 'shape of Japan' idea. After creating Structures That Shaped Japan, naturally I extended the idea to explore blossoms that shape Japan. With Spring around the corner, it made sense. So here's my recent photo montage. Blossoms That Shape Japan 2018 You can purchase this print here. Various print sizes available. You can view the progression of this montage in the video below. Have a wonderful Spring where ever you are! #blossoms #sakur

I've accumulated so many photos of girls in kimono, women in yukata, Geisha, and Oiran. It's what speaks to me when I think of Japan. One of the top things, at least. I love the vast variety in colors and patterns of kimono. I like to rifle through racks of kimono at Hard Offs, Flea Markets and Shrine Sales. I don't have many sewing skills, but I do appreciate fabric patterns. It's just a different kind of palette and canvas, if you think about it. Paintings by the loom. This

The half of me that is British is very British with my tea. At about 3 pm, its Tea Time. And what is rather amusing is that in England, 'Tea Time' in in fact dinner time. There's not normally tea to be had at Tea Time. For me, it's usually an Earl Grey caffeine boost to see me through the evening. I love my Peppermint tea in the morning for that refreshing wake up; especially with a drop of Peppermint Essential Oil. I miss tea with my family. Siblings chatting over cups of te

Since I started the custom travel montages for clients, I realized I hadn't actually got a Japan shaped montage of my own! Well, let's remedy that, shall we! Here's my Japan Photo Montage. I've limited it to the Torii Gates, Pagodas, bridges and Temples of Japan. Lots of vermilion red and some green and gold. I could do a city-scape one in the future, as I have plenty of those photos in stock: full of lights and neon signs. But this one is my traditional buildings ode to Japa

Another Mount Fuji painting! And this time overlooking the gorgeous Lake Motosu. It was a brilliant day for viewing all the amazing colors of Autumn. I took loads of photos, and one of them was worthy of being transformed into a watercolor painting. The blue of the lake against the reds, oranges and greens of the trees on the hills surrounding. Fuji was clear and crisp, with a wispy cloud floating across every once in a while. I stayed down by this lake until the sun went dow

From Shibuya crossing, we got back on the train to Shinjuku. I saw a photo on Pinterest of a very narrow street in Tokyo. It’s how so many of my travel excursions happen: I see a fantastic photo on Pinterest, or a Facebook post. I research how far it is, and then make a plan to go there. This little alley is called Omoide Yokocho Alley (or more fondly referred to as P!$$ Alley). I looked down one alley, and I can now confirm on the accuracy of this! It was one of the best exp

Welcome to my introduction in to photographing the stars. And what better location than at Mount Fuji. After a week of rain and cloud laden skies thankful, how we were that it was a clear night. But with clear nights come the cool temperatures. I gave up to insufficient clothing attire about 5 minutes before our scheduled time came to an end. I used the long exposure time, of 30 seconds or so, to jump up and down; trying to regain feeling in my feet and fingers. Here’s to hop

This is a commissioned piece for a client who wanted a montage of the Great Buddha in Kamakura. I had visited the Daibotsu (Great Buddha) in the Autumn and taken lots of photos of it. It was a perfect blue, clear sky. The green statue stood out well against the sky. I had some late morning sun highlighting the Buddha. It was an impressive sight. I started my photographing journey from a distance; including the trees on either side and behind, as well as the paving stones. I w

Greetings, Welcome to some new Photo Montage Custom Work I've started. I take your travel photos, your holiday snaps, and make a beautiful, colorful collage with them. When it's displayed in your home, what a conversation starter it will be! A little bit of a Geography quiz: guessing the outline of the country, using the photos as clues! What I love about this idea is that it is subtle. I haven't kept to the outline of the country all the way round. That would be too obvious

I'm excited to share with you my newest Photo Montage Art! During the Spring, here in Japan, I relished, savored and celebrated the blossoms: Sakura Season. But, I must confess it has taken several months and many failed concepts and compositions before reaching these two concluding pieces. Dreams Blossoming in particular, reminds me of a dream-like world: its very soft in its layering, soft in texture and hue. There are areas of the piece that are pillow-esqe (just made up t

Today one of my Photo Montage pieces went up for exhibition in The East Design Festa Gallery, in Harajuku, Tokyo (near Shibuya and Shinjuku area). This is a great location; down the road from Harajuku station, passed the busy shopping street, and in a more laid back area. The gallery has a lot of rooms available for exhibitions; some small rooms, some very large! This is a new gallery for me, so I am only exhibiting one piece of work, but I am very pleased with the location w

Greetings Lovelies, I'm excited to announce I shall be showing some of my Photo Montage Art work in the Design Festa Gallery in Harajuku, downtown Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It's a really convenient location; very close to Meiji-jingumae Station, and a 9 minute walk from JR Harajuku station, just up the road from Forever 21, Starbucks and McDonald's. I'll be exhibiting from Saturday July 2nd for three weeks until Saturday July 23rd, 2016. The gallery opens at 11 am and closes at

April 9th at Yoshiwara, a few minutes walk from Senso-ji Temple; found me enjoying the Oiran Dochu Procession. We arrived just as it started, and managed to snag a very good viewing spot right at the side of the stage. Nobody in front of my camera. My Google maps was directing me another 5 minutes north, when my husband saw a crowd gathered up ahead. So glad we decided to check it out, as it was where the Oiran Dochu parade would end. Awesome discovery saving us some precious

Our second trip to Asakusa was less busy than when we went on New Year’s Day. I don’t think it could get busier than it was on New Year’s! This past weekend was still super crowded, but I gave myself a realistic photography brief: the temple and people watching. I think I may have snapped away for not longer than 30 minutes; due to the bitter, albeit sunny, cold, and an impatient toddler who wanted to get out of the stroller and run anywhere and everywhere. I think this area

I get lots of ideas in the middle of the night after my son has woken up, gone back to dreamland, and I'm still struggling to fall back asleep. This new body of Montage Photography work has developed from one of those middle of the night ideas. I love taking photos when I am traveling, or visiting a new place. New scenes, new landscapes, culture, architecture. A subject I realize I photograph a lot is the church: cathedrals, chapels, mosques temples. Not too many synagogu

Hello Esteemed One, I hope things are going well for you. I want you to know I really appreciate the interest you have shown in my art. I'm working with a business coach and he has encouraged me to get to know a little more about the people interested in my art. If you don't mind, would you please hit reply to this email and answer these three questions: How did you find out about my art? What are your favorite news sources (specific websites, blogs, or news channels

A question artists can find difficult to answer. Here’s the long version: I suppose I don’t call anywhere home. I may have spent half of my life living in in England, but it isn't home. I may be citizen to the US and the UK, but I am not exclusively either, nor neither. So, everywhere is a new place, be it passing through over a day or so, or residing in for a decade. Each new country brings newness and freshness. A list of all the things to do and see in the time allocated t

If you keep head butting a wall, eventually you will break through; of course after enduring mild concussion, taking plenty of aspirin, and supplying lots of determination. I may have reached that point with these most recent works to my Montage Photography Art. I loved my 2007 Skins piece, and have tried to recreate it, limiting myself to photographs of birds. I loved the vibrant colors and contrasting textures in Skins, and I have tried to recreate those aspects in Birds Of