I often say that I owe my name, my height and a lot of who I am to being - very proudly - a Guernsey girl.  Coming from Guernsey has shaped who I am, and I'm so grateful for the love of being outside, the coast, community, family, culture, and shared history that growing up on the island gives. It's not a surprise that my love of Cumbria - where I'm based - reflects lots of those aspects though with more mountains, lakes and rivers than beaches near me!  Much of my creative work is based on that identity.  My visits back are often to see wonderful family and friends and the sights and smells of home, but there's so much creative inspiration there too and that's what drew me to making work inspired by both of my homes.

So this project ... When the opportunity to be involved with the new Guernsey banknotes was first published, the ideas and inspiration started flowing.  I've grown up collecting Bailiwick notes, coins, and postage stamps (a habit I haven't grown out of!) and was very excited about the possibility of being a part of that rich history.  During that time, Hayley Mallett contacted me about using one of my photographs for her submission and the idea of a collaboration came into being. Having gone to Hautes Capelles Primary and St. Sampsons' Secondary SchooI with Hayley, we reconnected in 2022 when Sula Gallery featured an exhibition of my photographs.  Whilst we hadn't seen each other properly in almost 20 years before the exhibition, both Hayley and I have such a complimentary love of Guernsey's nature and flora - especially in detail - and I've been following her beautiful interpretations of the natural world for years - it's been such a natural collaboration and our shared ​love and focus on nature has informed the concepts behind our designs.  We've worked together - with photos by me that have then been beautifully worked by Hayley in thread and bead - to create designs for the bank notes that are examples of the islands’ nature that we hope bring a sense of pride and joy in our Bailiwick, something we feel strongly!

I can't wait to reveal the designs (that won't be for a while yet though!), but you can hear a little more in the States of Guernsey film above or on their website: The new bailiwick banknotes - States of Guernsey.  On the reverse of the notes, work by the talented Natasha K. He will be featured. 

You can see Hayley's beautiful work on her website: Hayley Mallett Art - Mixed Media Textile Artist.

What a wonderful privilege to be part of the Guernsey banknotes!

I didn't get the best of light this year, however they look gorgeous no matter the weather.  You can see from the film above though that I was battling the wind, not an easy thing for photographer nor camera!  Enjoy these beauties.

It's Opening Night at 'The Bailiwick In Bloom' Exhibition at Sula Framing & Gallery in Guernsey tonight! Great to have Hotspur (a particularly flamboyant Nerine!) in the Exhibition as one of the sixty pieces on show.  ‘The Bailiwick in Bloom' has work from artists of all ages and is being held from 4th - 20th May 2023 with opening night tonight! See a little glimpse of the Exhibition here on Facebook.

Hotspur is for sale in my Art Print Shop, as well as a variety of Nerine Fine Art Prints.  You can see a selection of similar work on the Nerine section of my blog. 

Thank you to Plant Heritage Guernsey who gave me access to their beautiful National Collection of Nerines again this year during the annual Nerine Festival in October.  Here are a few of my favourites from this year!  Fine Art Prints of my photographs of the Nerines are now available online.

What a month! Being the Elven Queen is always amazing - the Fairyland experience is hard to describe but you can see from these photos that it's a magical thing to be involved with.  The team (photos below!) have been amazing, from our Fairy Queen to all our fairies, pixies and Wizards who make Fairyland so much fun for the hundreds of fairy families who visited.  A special shout-out goes to the team who made our beautiful Dragon (I only did a few scales here and there!) - isn't he gorgeous and he actual purred wisps of smoke! Thank you to everyone who came! 

A little write up on my Nerine Exhibition in the Guernsey Press - though I think I waffled a little confusingly about where I live and the fact I wasn't over for a baby shower this time, must be less bumbling in future!! Thanks to the Press for the article and to Sula for hosting my Exhibition!

​It is part of a Guernsey childhood to grow up with tales of shipwreck and salvage.  The story, potentially apocryphal, is that nerines arrived on the beaches of my home island in this very manner.   Along with their South African sister the Agapanthus, they have thrived in Guernsey and it was a thrill to photograph The Guernsey National Collection of Nerines care for by Plant Heritage Guernsey.

They say that Guernsey folk are always on a rubber-band pulling them back; in a stolen moment before the November Covid-19 lockdown, a flight to Guernsey was possible to be amongst the people and places of home.  In this time of crisis and unknown trajectories, there seems to be a great need for that feeling of home and belonging.  For me, these nerines – and their greenhouse - are a representation of that very thing and I was keen to capture a moment of their beauty at the end of the season.  Fittingly, they were on the cusp of their winter fade with some in full splendour and some submitting to the change of the seasons.  The Collection beamed with timeless beauty whilst giving a reassuring nod to the cycle of their growing year and the year to come. 

It was a joyful thing to walk amongst the plants with my camera, being drawn in by the Collection as a whole and at a more intimate, individual level; photographing the character of these plants, both delicate and flamboyant, and the peace and beauty of what they represent. 

It's been a busy two or three months leading to a very delayed 'Best of 2017'.  I almost considered leaving it until 2018 but there were so many lovely moments in the last year that I thought it was worth popping them up even if they are a little late.  Thank you to all those who have appeared through the lens of the de la Mare camera this year!
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Starting with a stunning Couple's shoot for Simon and Bethany in January, following their London wedding, this year's weddings have been a joy! There's a couple in here too of Tom and Hannah's stunning Graphistudio album that arrived this year.  Congratulations one and all.

It's hard categorising photos - a few in here could fit into the lovely people section, just they aren't people! Getting out and about or shooting pets in the studio were some of the highlights of 2017, with another successful Pet Week in Angel Square and lots of opportunities for capturing nature.

It's been such a pleasure to work with lots of different local businesses and organisations again this year including the beautiful work of mj cabinetmakers, a stunning fashion collection, work for the wonderful Ullswater Community College (including a little bit of Joey Essex) and Eden Boutique and a project for Hospice at Home's 20th anniversary including a visit from The Duchess of Gloucester.  If you don't know about Hospice at Home, please check out their website - it's a wonderful charity.

Really, it's all about people.  Thank you to all of these people who spent a little portion of their 2017 with me as we preserved a few memories together.  

Over the summer, I had a couple of visits 'home' to Guernsey - partly thanks to Chris and Larissa's wedding! It was an opportunity to catch up with family and friends as well as spend time in one of the most lovely places in the world.  I am biased, I know.  Part of the trip was spent camping on Herm Island and for that I didn't have my 'big' camera, just my Nokia Lumia, but those photos are for another post! Here are a few from my grandparents garden.  They are avid gardeners and grow a large variety of vegetables.  I seemed drawn to the fronds and vines again, so here they are... Hope you enjoy them!

As promised! Chris and Larissa's Wedding Film (you can catch their wedding photos here), such a lovely day.

I put up a sneak peak of this wedding last month with a few flower photos (http://bit.ly/1msUU88 for those interested!) but here are some from the 'day proper'.  It was such a beautiful and relaxed day - smiles, sun and sand! Herm Island is a perfect place for a wedding in the sun and everyone fitted in St Tugual's Chapel. Congratulations to the lovely couple!  I'll blog their Wedding Film in a couple of days! Chris and Larissa's family and friends can view the whole wedding gallery in the Client Area of the website.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Prince!