Welcome to my Tales of the Trees photo series.

In late 2023 I was feeling a disconnect between myself and the world around me. I was becoming overwhelmed by the sudden rise of artificial intelligence and instantly generated art and was feeling a bit lost in my own artistic direction. Two events triggered a bit of a direction towards this tree based theme. The first was the illegal felling of the world famous Sycamore Gap Tree in northern England, which caused a sense of collective grief that I had never quite seen for a tree before. The second was a walk I took shortly after Christmas, where I caught myself deep in thought and appreciation for the majestic trees I was walking under.

This led to wanting to dedicate 2024 to this artistic exploration of trees. It was the year I was turning 40 and it seemed like a perfect connection to honour my own existence on this earth by celebrating the natural world around me. Tales From The Trees is a series of images, one for each year of my time on earth, exploring the myths and legends, the beauty and power of the trees around us.

I spent hours over the course of 2024 walking in ancient woodlands, hiking and looking for the right trees for my images. I researched the stories behind the trees, visited ones that were as old as the pyramids and ones that lived as the backdrop to some of the world’s most significant events. I caught myself staring at trees out of car windows or as I walked through cities, looking for potential stories to be told.

It’s quite clear to me that this project not only reignited a creative spark in me and allowed me the time to create with intention and purpose but it gave me the chance to immerse myself in new environments and to spend as much time in nature as I possibly could. The combination of this meaningful creative time in nature and a sense of direction gave me a newfound passion for my own art.

Trees are living legends. They hold the weight of our world in their branches and after spending a year reaching toward them and celebrating them, I feel even more passionate about making sure they’re here to honour and enjoy for generations to come.