Wiltshire Photography in the Spring - pets, bluebells and more! April/May 2025

For a 30 day month, I seemed to cram a lot into April – and May is going to be equally busy with Pet Portrait Sessions and markets galore (go to the bottom of this newsletter to see where I’m going to be and when in May)

The whole of April seems to have been a Good Weather month; my very first event away from the Shambles took place under a beautiful blue sky at Ramsbury Brewery - their artisan makers market was bustling and fun, especially for me in my ‘teepee’ by the music stage - followed by another gorgeous day at the historic Shaw House in Newbury, Berkshire. It was my second event there and I loved it - friendly volunteers, great organisation and a stunning location all make a great day out for me and the many visitors.

April was also the month of blossom and bluebells - I remember clearly being told about West Woods when I was still quite new to the area. I asked for directions, and then for more precise directions because I was worried I wouldn’t find the bluebells. They gave me a smile tinged with something bordering on pity, I felt, and wondered about their reaction…the first time you go to West Woods, nothing can prepare you. I now understand their reaction - in fact, earlier this week I was asked, in the West Woods carpark, which way a couple should walk to find the bluebells…I smiled broadly, gave a general wave all around me. It’s marvellous, it’s amazing, the smell’s extraordinary and the flowers go on forever and ever. If you can, visit. In late April, early May. I’ve had the most wonderful Pet Portrait Sessions there this year and in my next newsletter I can’t wait to share some of the photos. In the meantime, here are a few of the Woods to whet the appetite.

Apart from West Woods, I’ve been out and about with my Pet Photography - Erlestoke for more bluebells in a gorgeous woodland setting; a lovely stroll by the river in Calne, a new location that I really enjoyed; a few of my fabulous circular walks around Drew’s Pond Woods and a great late afternoon shoot on the edge of Salisbury Plain. This month I photographed 15 dogs in total, all gorgeous, all different and all making me so very happy to do my job.

I gave myself an hour to explore the area around the Salisbury Plain location - I always get to a new location early to have a look-around, see what angles and interesting shots there are, get a general feel for a place. On this day, I lost 55 minutes of that precious hour going up a clearly impassable chalk track (is it just me who loses all power of independent thought when that google maps voice tells me where to go?) getting stuck, abandoning my car, going back to my car, slip-sliding backwards in the car to a place I could turn around….it was mildly terrifying…but look at this amazing field I paused to enjoy when I was safe. Without that terror, I’d never have seen this. I’m a positive kind of person, you know. (photos from that shoot next month, also)

I didn’t roll the car and I did see an amazing field of yellow

My brother and his family visited us in Devizes for the first time - I took a day out from the Shambles and did the tourist thing with them. We had a ride on a narrowboat (cleverly moving our home from the countryside into the centre of town for a few days); they stayed at the the Bear hotel and weren’t disturbed by a ghost (that was very good news for Catherine, my sister-in-law) and on Thursday we visited the Church, the museum (definitely worth a visit), the market (gin tasting at 10h30 is a great thing to try) and I strolled through the Shambles thinking, isn’t this a fabulous market in a fabulous town, I should come here more often! And then we went to the Fun Fair - where my youngest nephew found, to his absolute delight, that he’s finally tall enough to go on fairground rides. We took him on the Waltzers - surely everybody’s favourite, nostalgia-driven ride - and he couldn’t get enough. Though to me it seemed to go on longer, and faster, and whizzier than when I was 15…anyway, onwards and upwards for my little nephew - right up to the Wall of Death where the safety cord over his face (he’s little, after all!) did finally make him feel slightly afraid! And then, they were gone, and so were all those paddlers heading from Devizes to Westminster - I got a snap of one as I walked to the Shambles on Good Friday - where a lovely Easter Bunny was handing out chocolates…

I had a new card order arrive - over 300 this time, and the ‘kingfisher among the berries’ have almost sold out already - I’m putting in a new order very soon. Get in touch if you’ve any card requests and I’ll see what I can do.

Kingfisher among the berries - popular as a card as well as a framed and unframed print (and mug, bag, keyring)

And here is one photo from one fun Pet Portrait Session at Drew’s Pond Woods - this is one drenched spaniel!

May is here and I’m still busy with exciting Photoshoots, and Craft Fairs and Markets in new places and old…here’s where you can find me:

The Shambles, Devizes, bay 20 - Thursday 8 May, Thursday 15 May

Folk and Bespoke Craft Fair, Phoenix Centre, Exeter - Saturday 17 May, 10 til 3, Gandy Street

The Bath Independent Spring Market - Sunday 18 May, 10 til 3, Green Park Station

The Shambles, Devizes bay 20 - Thursday 22, Friday 23, Saturday 24 May

Avebury Garden Celebration Weekend Sunday 25, Monday 26 May, Manor House Garden - I’ll be there with my gazebo, can’t wait!

The Shambles, Devizes bay 20 - Thursday 29 May, Friday 30 May

The Old Potato Yard, Lydeway - Saturday 30 May - I’ll be outdoors with my gazebo on the last Saturday of the month

And in between all of the above, I’ll be photographing lots of pets, and showing lots of pet owners beautiful, unique photos of their amazing animals - it’s going to be a great month.

Right, it’s time for me to share this, look through some great photos from tonight’s photoshoot at Foxley Paddock there was running, jumping, splashing, backlit beauty…it’s such a great place for a safe Pet Portrait Session…then I’ll wander back along the towpath to my lovely floating home and relax before a busy day in the Shambles tomorrow.

Happy May folks, may it be full and busy and fun for us all

Phil x



 



Pet Portraits in Devizes and around - what I've been up to!

Well, it’s been an incredibly busy year so far, and it's just getting busier...and it’s also been noted that my blog posts have been lacking to say the least...so I thought it would be good to put that right with a little update on what I’ve been doing and what I’m going to be doing... 

I’ve been photographing pets, lots of pets – mostly dogs, of all shapes, sizes, ages and characters, and I’ve loved every single shoot. I’m not going to lie, some are more challenging than others, but all have produced great memories and great photos. I’ve made new friends, both 2 and 4-legged, and am thoroughly enjoying my Pet Portrait Sessions.  

 

Yesterday morning I was in my element, in the heart of the ancient Savernake forest, photographing a made-for-an-autumn-photoshoot Vizsla – she and the golden russet colours of the forest floor and leaves still clinging on the almost bare trees were phenomenal...I am very excited about the photos...but I never share before the owners have seen the best of the best at the ‘Reveal’ so I’m afraid that for now, you’re just going to have to take my word for it. 

 

an early start in the amazing Savernake Forest

But here are a few of my favourite photos from recent shoots, to give you an idea of what fun I’m having! 

 

 

And the fun is set to continue, with my happy involvement with the inaugural Pewsey Pawfest on Saturday 23 November, 11am - 5pm! 

The name says it all, really – a day celebrating all things doggie, in the Bouverie Hall in Pewsey. There will be local experts on all things canine – behaviourists, groomers, trainers, artists, walkers and so on – and ME – I'm giving a talk at 1pm on how to get the best photos of your dog with your mobile phone. I’m going to have a table there with examples of my work and will be offering a few on-the-day special deals for my Pet Portrait Sessions, so do come along if you can (entries free, Honey’s Real Dog Food are generously sponsoring the event). I really hope this Dog Festival in the amazing vale of Pewsey will be the first of many more.

Before then, though, I’ll be in my usual spot in the Shambles, Devizes (that’s Bay 20 if you weren’t sure) - this week I’m there from Thursday to Sunday so there’s plenty of time for you to call in and say hello.

I change my display often - at some point it looked like this!

And next week, I’m going to be chatting on Swindon radio 105.5 Live - so if you’ve wondered who I am, how I’ve got to doing what I’m doing, and what I’m doing next, see if you can listen in. Wednesday 20 November from 10am…


Well that’s it for now folks- I’ve an early start setting up in the market and a heap of things to be getting on with - if you’ve any questions or comments, feel free to let me know and hopefully you’ll be hearing from me here again soon!

Take care of yourselves,

Phil x

What went on in July...

July was over before it seemed to have begun (as has been most of the year to date) - possibly lost in slow motion along the Kennet and Avon canal…the summer travels have begun and it feels wonderful to be on the move again. The plan is to have 3 months properly travelling; a Gold Licence this year means unlimited time on the Thames and any other river that’s not under the Canal and River Trust’s jurisdiction. Messing about on the river, all the way up to Lechlade via Oxford, is a lovely thing to do.

There were a few things happening before I started clocking up those slow miles along the canal…not least, the emergence of this year’s damsel- and dragonflies. They seemed to emerge from one day to the next, starting with the fabulous Scarce Chaser dragonflies and followed soon after by the pretty tiny emerald damselflies…oh, I really must mention the Ranatra Linearis that was pulling itself along the side of the boat, just underwater. I’d never heard of it so kind of thought we we’d discovered something completely new living in the canal! It’s known as a ‘water stick insect’, has the attributes of a praying mantis, breathes through its tail and is an underwater predator - how about that?!

Then, I went on holiday though there were plenty of times when the memorable line from Withnail and I came to mind: “we’ve gone on holiday by mistake”.

Highlights- catching up with great friends in the gorgeous harbour town of Portsoy in their fabulous Port House cafe; seeing puffins, razorbills, seals and thousands of other birds at the rspb Dunnet Head nature reserve; eating fish and chips in Whitby; coast walking from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay.

Lowlights - there are no highland cows in the Highlands (trust me on this); driving 1400 miles in 4 days; the rain, the relentless rain that made camping impossible in Scotland; eating fish and chips in Whitby (enough is enough!); seagulls at 4am (there’s no double glazing in a tent).

A big, even massive, boost this month photography-wise came in the form of a front cover and 2 page spread in Amateur Photographer magazine, where I was asked to talk about my favourite lens, the Sigma 105mm, and to submit some photos taken with it. The delight I got from this was made even greater when my SheClicks friends amassed a load of copies and sent me a photo - where would we be without the support of like-minded people?

And finally…July began with immeasurable sadness as we said goodbye to Dad. The fact he’d been suffering for too long and his passing happened with relative speed and comfort didn’t seem to make things any easier when it happened. He would be so proud of me and just the few things I’ve begun to achieve with my photography, so this is for him. RIP Dad xx

Pet Portraits - preserving a moment in time

Pet Portraits - my exciting new venture!

Isn’t it amazing how a left turn here or a right turn there can change a life?

Since 2019 I’ve been lurking in the narrowboat’s cratch, crouching in fields and hiding by rivers (to name just a few places) enjoying my wildlife and nature photography more than I’d ever imagined possible. It’s been wonderful; I’ve seen more of the UK in these years than in all my life, and been lucky enough to get to places inaccessible to most (I’m definitely thinking of the tidal river Ouse at dawn here).

And then, last summer, we made a very, very spontaneous decision to turn left off the Thames at Reading, heading onto the Kennet and Avon canal, a canal we left 3 years ago vowing never to return…and here I am (we are, don’t worry!), still continuous cruisers on our 45 foot narrowboat but with something like watery roots being put down around Devizes. It’s fabulous.

I’ve a stall in The Shambles, Devizes’ every Friday and Saturday (come and say hello) and am now branching out into Pet Portraits - what could be better than preserving a moment in time of your perfect pooch, your favourite feline, your happiest horse, mightiest mouse….OK I’ll stop there, the point is, I’m here to photograph all your pets and animals however large or small.

I’ll share more of my Pet Portraits as I capture more moments in time and, if you’re interested in your own photoshoot, please get in touch either here or via any social media app or even in person in the Shambles every Friday and Saturday. There’s no pressure, no obligation and my pricing is reasonable and clear, with no hidden extras. I’m not putting prices here because if you’re thinking of offering a session as a gift I feel it takes some of the charm away.

Well, now I have to go and get ready for tomorrow’s market…I hope to see or hear from you soon,

Take care til then,

Phil x