In August 2017 I carried out my own ‘Escape to the Country’ by moving from London to the Cotswolds.  We spent much of our search in the Northern Cotswolds where most of the ‘chocolate box’ limestone cottages and rolling hills lie.   The West is more rugged, more rural and contains more industry, so we largely avoided it.

Eventually we found a cottage that we loved but it happened to be in the West.  After thinking hard we chose to move there regardless and  since then, we have come to love the area and feel that the industry adds to the environment, far from detracting from the beauty.

These images are intended to show that industry and area’s beauty.

There is a range of images that I also hope conveys the diversity.  There are modern items such as the Dairy Farm at Upper Coberly or the sheep grazing under pylons in the same area.  There are historic buildings that still play a role after being modernised such as the renovated mill in Thrupp and then there are historic buildings now left to ruin that dot the countryside but still contribute to the overall charm of the area, such as the old barn at Shipton Oliffe.

After much deliberation, the images are presented in colour.  I had thought to submit this assignment in black and white in order to convey a sense of timelessness and so bridge the gap between old and new.  On seeing the results, I felt that the timeless effect also removed my images from the present, made them too distant.  I did not like the feel, I want the images to represent now, so I have chosen to remain in colour.  The black and white versions can be seen in a contact sheet.

Submitted Images

Contact Sheets