Beyond The Edge /
The inception of ‘Beyond The Edge’ came about spontaneously one New Year’s morning during breakfast when a thunderstorm breezed in.
I was already gearing myself up over coffee, ready to embrace whatever new creative possibilities that this New Year had in store for me.
The dramatic weather provided the perfect catalyst. On a whim, I jumped into my car and chased the thunderstorm.
“Beyond the Edge” draws you into the overlooked, conveying a sense of exploration and discovery. This is not just about the landscapes that surround me, but about the space just beyond them, where beauty is found in the edges – those places where the everyday slips into the unknown. It finds beauty and meaning in the outskirts and peripheral areas of my hometown.
In East Anglia, the vast flat landscape allows the sky to dominate two-thirds of your vision, creating a perfect canvas for dramatic scenes. While driving around, I find myself immersed in skies that feel more like Turner’s brooding storms or Constable’s reflective calm, each moment infused with an intensity that feels eternal.
From the comfort of my car, I direct my lens through the often rain-streaked windscreen, letting elements of the car’s interior and exterior naturally creep into the frame – these are not imperfections to erase but integral pieces of the atmosphere. They define the project’s aesthetic, reflecting how even the smallest distractions can be a portal to something greater.
Sheltered from the cold, wet and windy weather outside, I’m reminded of childhood memories – of being snug and warm on long drives to visit friends and family as the dreich Scottish weather pressed in around us. My parents always kept blankets and cushions on the back seat of the car, so that my brother and I could curl up and sleep on the way home through the wet darkness.
Beyond the Edge moves beyond the comfort of my home, venturing into the cold, wet unknown. It is an exploration not just of space, but of memory – the places where the past collides with the present. It’s about uncovering new perspectives in the unremarkable, finding meaning in landscapes that often fade into the background.
Centred within a seven-mile radius of Thaxted – my beautiful medieval market town surrounded by open countryside – Morris men mark time in the streets while Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” resonates from the church organ on which he composed it, offering a rich backdrop. Dick Turpin’s legend lingers in the corners of the village, adding to the sense of timelessness that pervades this place.
This project stretches between the quiet villages of Saffron Walden and Dunmow, in rural North Essex bordering Cambridgeshire. Within these familiar, often overlooked surroundings, I capture the essence of a world we take for granted – scenes I witness every day.
From my home windows, I have a clear view of this ever-changing landscape. Whenever the weather turns interesting or the skies become particularly beautiful, I jump into my car at a moment’s notice and drive around, searching for compelling images – something that always feels just beyond reach.
