“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere”
Vincent Van Gogh

Painterly glass across England and Scotland on 35mm film.

Since 2007 more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. According to The New Scientist, people living in densely populated cities in the UK are more likely to experience feelings of loneliness. This tends to affect men more than women, and is associated with higher rates of death for those affected. There is also strong evidence that contact with nature in cities significantly reduces feelings of loneliness.

These photographs were taken in densely populated parts of London as part of my daily walks around the city. Most of them were taken with few people around; in Lambeth’s green open spaces, cemeteries and quiet corners of busy streets.

This work is part of my ongoing dialogue with nature—its rhythms of change, decay, and resilience echoing my own personal journey. As environmental issues increasingly impact human health and well-being, especially through shifting landscapes and rising temperatures, I’ve come to better understand the delicate interconnections between nature, species, and human life.

Pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss can often feel distant or invisible. These images turn abstract concerns into something people can see, feel, and connect with. It’s my way of making a difference, however small.

These 35mm exposures were washed in a 40 degree cycle before being developed. The artistic process of damaging 35mm film by washing it in a washing machine at 40 degrees was both an experiment and an act of surrendering control.

Not My Face Please

“The most transitory of things, a shadow, the proverbial emblem of all that is fleeting and momentary, may be fettered by the spells of our ‘natural magic’, and may be fixed forever in the position which seemed only destined for a single instant to occupy...”

It can take some plastic items hundreds of years to biodegrade.

Helium balloons in particular are a hazard to seas and to cattle. In exchange for a short and ‘beautiful’ release, the balloons return to earth to pollute even the most remote of places. There is currently no ban in this country, but some counties are considering it. The low cost of helium contributes to the wastage of the chemical element.

In the UK many plastic bags are now biodegradable and thanks to single-use bag tax, the use of them has declined by 86% (stat from UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs , Dec 2018).

Many communities are litter picking due to local government funding cuts. While this kind of activity is not new, the aggresive plastic polution has built up to a point where it is difficult to maintain the litter in many rural and urban areas.

These photographs are taken using plastic and broken cameras and lenses.

with loving thanks to Kathryn Joseph for naming this collection

Foxley Farm is not an easy place to find. A few miles north west of Towcester, somewhere on the road from Blakesley to Pattishall, lies the tiny hamlet of Foxley. You descend from a bend in the narrow country lane, you round the corner of an old barn and there you are. A slate sign on the front of a handsome home made of Northamptonshire stone will tell you that you have reached Foxley Farm.

DJ and MC Higgott (David and Claire) brought their pedigree herd of Holstein Friesian cattle to Foxley Farm in 1988. They didn’t leave for another 27 years.

Words by James Higgott

For 18 months I photographed Foxley farm through the seasons. Claire selected images for the book. Here contains some images that didn’t make the cut.

My mother almost died a few months after a straight forward eye operation. She is now registered blind and learning how to live independently with her limited vision. These photos were taken with a number of broken lens cameras over a 2 year period. With thanks to The Eye Fund.

Emma swam the English channel to raise awareness of Endometriosis.  Her swimming coach told her to always be ready for the call to swim. The channel conditions were not ready for her swim for 3 months. I took photos of her #waitingforthecall. 

“Endometriosis is a condition that affects 1 in 10 women and it still takes to this day an average of 7.5 years to diagnose.  7.5 years!  I’ve taken part in fundraising activities pretty much my entire adult life, so my events would now raise funds for Endometriosis UK.

Half a million women stopped swimming in last decade, we must reverse this trend! The benefits of exercise are well known and swimming is such a great way of keeping fit and keeping joints healthy. I am sad and angry that people stop swimming because of body image issues... if I can convince friends, colleagues or strangers to get back to the pool, I'll be a happy woman”

Instagram & Twitter: @moywatson