I was introduced to the cyanotype process when I was studying for my photography degree in Edinburgh.

It’s a captivating, unpredictable process and with imagination creates unique and beautiful images.

My knowledge and passion for photography was vital in my career in publishing. For almost 30 years I worked as a picture researcher responsible for sourcing images for a wide range of books.

Based in Shropshire these days I’m fortunate to enjoy an abundance of nature right on my doorstep. It’s the perfect place to gather and grow inspirational plants to make botanical art and lampshades.

An early photographic sun-printing technique discovered by Sir John Herschel in 1842.

It was made famous by botanist and photographer Anna Atkins in 1843 when she published the first ever book illustrated by photography, ‘Photographs of British Algae, Cyanotype Impressions’.

The process was popular in the 20th century. Architects and engineers used it to reproduce documents and plans, commonly known as blueprints.