Every now and then, I get to have a great time chatting about creative industries with students (and non-students!) like at the Careers day at Austin Friars earlier this year. One of the things I mention is getting training in when possible.

At the moment there's a scheme of 'Free Courses in England' (you do have to commit to the course) that include courses on Coding, Business Administration and Digital Marketing. There's a link on the 'useful links' sections of 'ed' page here.
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If you are looking at a career in the creative industries, it's worth having a look at the courses to see if they'd enhance your CV and portfolio. Good luck!

Having sent photographs to the Herald a good many times of the years (often celebrating the success of UCC students), it was so lovely to be featured in the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald this week. I had a fascinating, and varied, chat with reporter Alan Cole recently about the project, the importance of cash to society, then nature of collaboration and the sense of home! Whilst we chatted across the subjects, the article was focussed on the Guernsey Banknotes project (as, of course, it should be!) and my collaboration with Hayley Mallett. Thanks to the Herald for the great article and I'm trying not to be too embarrassed about having my face in the paper!

Great to be featured in the Guernsey Press article about the new Guernsey banknotes, alongside Hayley and Natasha.  I definitely felt a little like a school girl getting her photo done (how strange to be that side of the newspaper photo!)... Either way, it's a great article about the project and you can read it here: Artists’ designs chosen for new banknotes

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 had a great day chatting about careers in the creative industry with students at Austin Friars in Carlisle - along with my collection of design and photographic bits and pieces!  Topics covered digital and analogue cameras, the intersection of art and other subjects (including maths) and the role A.I will play in the future.  It was also a pleasure to meet people from other industries who were there to speak to the students.

If you are interested in a career in the creative industries, you can find some questions to ask yourself on my education page here.  Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions at all!

Austin Friars popped a little post up here about the day.

Over a series of coffees at Verey's Bookshop in Pooley Bridge, Sarah Newby and I thrashed out what she was looking for in a website and put together something that looks great and is going to be a fantastic resource for her customers.  Most people don't need complicated coding and intimidating jargon, when I assist with web design it's really helping people do it themselves by doing it with them!  Sarah and I talked through what she needed, she provided the content for the site and I designed and created the pages including the membership areas before handing it over to her.  Sarah has such an amazing passion for her people and her profession and it was such a pleasure to go on the website journey with her!  Check out here site here.

Over a number of years, it's been my pleasure to work alongside the team at Meals on Wheels Cumbria to highlight what they offer for the community.  From helping them with their website to capturing photographs and film, it's always great to celebrate and promote the work that they do.  If you are looking for a hot meal and a little extra contact during the week for yourself or a family member, do get in touch with them at mealsonwheelscumbria.org.  Whilst I can't provide smell-o-vision (the food looked and smelt amazing!!) you can hear from the team, volunteers and customers themselves on the film we made at the end of 2023:  

It goes without saying that 2020 has been an unusual year. It’s also been a time of change here as, after 15 years, I’ve gone full-time as a photographer and creative. For many years, I’ve had the pleasure of working for a few days each as a graphic designer for Ullswater Community College and have counted celebrating the students of that school as one of the joys of my life. As 2020 began, it felt right to transition my role out and give my time fully to my business after eleven years at UCC. From this summer we’ve had a name change, from de la Mare Photography to de la Mare Creative, and whilst this isn’t necessarily the easiest year to do it in, I’m excited for the changes and opportunities ahead!

Over the next few months there will be updates on our website and social media pages - we have exciting new collaborations happening, some seasonal shoots and a new photographic venture coming too. So follow us and come along for the ride!

You can find us on facebook: www.facebook.com/delamarecreative and on Instagram @delamarecreative

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.