Tethered during lockdown to his hometown of Swanage, well-known landscape photographer Andy Farrer took inspiration from his local surroundings for an exhibition showcasing his new work.
The landscape photography exhibition entitled ‘Breathe’ is at the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park in Swanage from Wednesday 28th July until Sunday 15th August 2021.
Winner of the Landscape Photographer of the Year competition in 2015, Andy is known for his atmospheric images of the natural world, often featuring iconic Dorset landmarks like Corfe Castle.
The Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park in Swanage
“I’m usually travelling round the world”
Andy said:
“I haven’t done an exhibition for quite a few years but suddenly with lockdown, I had time to think about it.
“I’m usually travelling round the world, taking people on photography trips and running workshops. Regularly I’d be in Morocco in spring and then Norway, photographing the Northern Lights in the winter but that all changed!
“Over the last year and a half, being out in nature has never been more important. I spent my time trudging around the Purbeck countryside with my camera and it’s now nice to be able to showcase the result of all that daily exercise.
“I’ve called the exhibition ‘Breathe’ because I’ve tried to capture the feeling of space in my photography, giving people the time to themselves to step back and think.”
Andy Farrer setting up his exhibition
Different photographic techniques
During the pandemic Andy also had time to experiment with different photographic techniques including cyanotype. This is a form of photographic printing using photosensitive chemicals.
To produce this back-to-basics printing method, he exposed the prints to sunlight in his garden. The result is a series of blue images of local landmarks that are part of the exhibition and are also available as greeting cards.
One of Andy’s greeting cards produced using cyanotype printing during lockdown
Born and brought up in Swanage
Andy was born in Everest, the maternity wing of Swanage Hospital and brought up in the town. His family once owned the stationery shop, Purbeck Press in Station Road which is now Greggs – an iconic Swanage location that is not so photogenic!
At Purbeck Press, they used to do printing for customers and Andy says this is where he started to love the whole idea of creating printed images. All his work is printed by himself and only reproduced in limited editions.
Not surprisingly his images are regularly bought by overseas customers, particularly from the States, who love his photographs of Corfe Castle in the mist surrounded by the rolling Purbeck countryside.
Corfe Castle in the mist – an Andy Farrer classic!
“A breath of fresh air”
Durlston Country Park’s Shannon Dugdale said:
“It’s very exciting to have Andy here exhibiting his work, with all that’s been happening, I feel as though it will be a breath of fresh air for people to come and visit Durlston and experience Andy’s work in a spectacular setting”.
Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park in Swanage
‘Breathe’: Landscape Photography by Andy Farrer runs for two and a half weeks until Sunday 15th August 2021 in the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Country Park in Swanage.
The gallery, which looks out onto a spectacular sea view, is open daily from 10.30 am to 5 pm.
