Thornthwaite Galleries - Martin Lawrence

Featured exhibitors:

Martin Lawrence

Martin bought his first camera, a Pentax program A, many years ago. Photography became one of his many hobbies but was always pushed into the background by his love of golf.

About 17 years ago he took up fell-walking in the beautiful Lake District area and the camera quickly made a re-appearance capturing the spectacular scenery he encountered. In 2003 he received a Fuji Finepix camera as a Christmas present and was soon converted to digital photography. It gave him the ability to quickly capture scenery in its many changing lights and forms. But it was the purchase of a Canon 10D digital SLR with its flexibility of interchangeable lenses and filters that really began his current love of landscape photography. He currently shoots photos using a Canon 5D.

Slater Bridge, Little Langdale

Martin has had no formal training. His extensive knowledge has been built up by trial and error, reading whatever literature he could get his hands on, learning from other inspirational photographers such as Colin Prior and Joe Cornish and constantly returning to the same places to refine and improve his work. He often takes dozens of photographs of a particular view before he is satisfied with his final image. He is now the owner of a stunning portfolio of photographs taken in all areas of the Lake District but particularly in the area surrounding his pine holiday lodge in Bassenthwaite near Keswick.

Martin lives in Preston with his wife Sheila and daughter Rebecca aged 14. His oldest daughter Debbie lives and works in London. He uses his lodge in Bassenthwaite as a base for his work and exhibits in several galleries including the prestigious Thornthwaite Galleries near Keswick. He holds exhibitions at the Moot Hall in Keswick approximately once a month.

Martin treats the subject of landscape photography and the presentation of his work as both an art and a craft. The whole process of capturing, printing, mounting and framing is very time-consuming but also extremely rewarding. The finished article is something in which he takes great pride. If you get even a small percentage of the pleasure from his work that went in to creating it then it will have been a success.

Dodd Wood, Bassenthwaite

Derwentwater from Castlehead