‘The Bird Cage’ shown at Guildford House Open 2024

I'm delighted that The Bird Cage was selected for the Guildford House Open 2024. I attended the private viewing last night with my mum, and seeing my work displayed alongside so many talented artists was a proud moment. 

Probably my favourite piece of 2024; it was taken early one foggy March morning near my home. The outside world felt strangely claustrophobic that day, and something about the atmosphere pulled me outside, camera in hand. In the middle of a desolate field stood this metal structure, shrouded in fog. I captured the scene, and as luck would have it, a bird flew over just as I clicked the shutter. I’m often amazed by how many “happy accidents” find their way into my work! 

The Bird Cage was also a turning point in my post-production process. I experimented extensively—adding grain, testing different crops, tweaking hues. I played around with various presentation formats too: image size, paper types (gloss vs. matte), and the ratio of image to mount. In the end, the original image proved the best. 

The final piece, measuring 30 cm x 42 cm, was intentionally presented with a smaller image and a large deep mount to draw viewers in. It’s a curious image, and I wanted people to notice it from across the room and feel compelled to take a closer look. The framing format was inspired by a piece I saw at the Glynn Vivian Gallery in Swansea earlier this year, and it felt well suited to this piece.

I also took a bold step with the frame. Normally, I’d stick with black or white, but this time, I chose a blue frame that complemented the tones in the image.

Being part of this exhibition has boosted my confidence. It’s a big step to see my work standing alongside other contemporary artists. Knowing that my themes resonate more broadly—across urban and rural audiences—feels incredibly satisfying. One of the organisers mentioned that only around 10% of submissions were accepted, so I’m very pleased!