RPS Northern Region Committee

I have been taking taken photos since I  was a teenager.  A member of a couple of photo clubs in Teesside I joined the RPS in 2014 when I got my LRPS. As well as being a member of the Northern Documentary Group since it started I belong to the Digital Imaging, Visual Art, Creative Eye, Documentary and the Landscape groups.  My particular interest is in infrared photography and creative photography generally. I took over from Heather Lawrence in December 2023 as regional organiser.

I have worked in the voluntary sector all my working life supporting groups and developing and managing projects.  I also worked part time for nearly 30 yeas as a registered homeopath. I live on the southern border of the region in North Yorkshire but with a Teesside postcode.

I’m a retired Project Manager so have more time for photography and a bit of running.

I have been a member of the RPS since 2008 but have been taking photographs since 1983. My photography interest are varied so the requirements for the Licentiate panel was a good fit for me.  However, the genre requirements for the Associate panels means that I usually have several possible panels on the go at the same time.  This does mean that I’m interested in most of the events that the committee arranges which make it easier to be enthusiastic for the events. 

I look forward to meeting the regions members at future events.

Hi everyone
I am the Treasurer of the group. I don’t actually handle any money that is all done by headquarters but I have lots of paper work to fill in which is thrilling (really it is)
I have taken photographs since I was a little girl following in my father and Grandfather's footsteps.
I love all visual images but am seeming to lean towards more abstract/visual art as I get older.
I am aiming to try and do something slightly different or show something from a slightly different viewpoint.
I have an LRPS and when the new guidelines are published I am going to start on preparing for an ARPS as the next thing to keep my busy.

I have had an interest in photography since I was a teenager and still own and use several analogue cameras although 90% or more of my photography is with digital. I enjoy printing my own images.

I joined the RPS in 2014 and since retirement in 2017 I have been able to devote more of my time to photography, I gained my Licentiate in 2019.

Main interests are landscape and architectural photography although of late I have taken an interest in wildlife and travel.

I grew up thinking every house had a darkroom - Dad seemed to spend hours in his! My first job was as an industrial photographer at James A Jobling, (makers of Pyrex glassware). Unfortunately I was made redundant at the ripe old age of 20, and, as in those days girls did not go out taking photographs but worked in the darkroom I ended up deciding to start a family instead!
Whilst the family were growing up I started my own secretarial services business, and found myself taking photographs for estate agents, organising events and national conferences. My kids got fed up being shot (and this was before digital photography) and when I finally bit the bullet and bought a digital camera I thought l thought I should earn how to use it. Having done all the courses the local College provided I took a complete flight of fancy and applied to – and was accepted by! – Cleveland College of Art and Design (now the Northern School of Art)
I now volunteer for Art UK, building up their database of the latest art craze, murals, as well as being Northern Communications person for the RPS.

Cameras were a big part of my growing up - my Dad always had a camera to hand - we had lots of those embarrassing childhood photographs!
I started taking photography seriously when I received a Nikon DSLR Camera as a gift.  I was encouraged by a local Durham photographer Philip Nixon to join the Royal Photographic Society to develop my skills.  I started to enter FIAP International Photographic Salons and I was successful and I gained a ‘FIAP Distinction in Photography’ in May 2018.  I went on to achieve Associate Membership of the RPS  in October 2014.
This gave me a solid base to work from, and the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. I’ve attended talks, courses and workshops and I’ve become involved in local, regional and national RPS special interest groups.
I enjoy all kinds of photography.  In 2018 I was introduced to the joys of Intentional Camera Movement and abstraction working, with Doug Chinnery and Valda Bailey -this broadened my mind to new ideas. As time has moved on I am continuing to have an open mind and to learn and expand my creative skills and broaden my photographic interests.  

Before I retired, I was involved in outdoor education. When I was appointed as a head in the seventies, I was probably the youngest headteacher in Northumberland.   My photography involvement started fifteen years before then when I was invited to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Greece; I wanted to record the experience and bought my first camera. From then I've always tried to record the events in my life. I became interested in computing in the early eighties and as a result moved towards a digital camera. The then chairman of our local camera club asked me to join so that I could encourage the members to move towards digital. Nearly thirty years on I'm still involved as the club's honorary president.