Travel Gallery

I’m celebrating the new year with a shiny new website for Heather Bennett Photography.

The new site makes it easier for you to discover more about me, my photographs and my books. You’ll also find plenty of inspiration and tips to help you with your own photography.

Visit the ‘Travel’ page for a taste of some of my favourite images from my travels around the world, including Cuba, Morocco and Italy.

And while my artist and musician husband, Raul Speek, and I are both keen travellers, we also love Pembrokeshire. So, I’ve dedicated a page to this beautiful county in South West Wales, which has been our home since 1995.

Solva Low Tide

Solva, Pembrokeshire, at low tide

My new website – designed and built by Warbrook Creative – also includes information about my exhibitions and commissions, as well as samples of my poetry, and lots more.

Please take a look around and let me know what you think.

Update on Covid-19 restrictions for Wales

Wales is currently under alert level 4 coronavirus restrictions, which means people must stay at home, except for very limited purposes. Because of the new rules, we’ve temporarily closed our gallery and shop at the Old Chapel in Solva, North Pembrokeshire.

The restrictions are expected to be reviewed every three weeks and we’ll let you know as soon as we’re able to open again. When we can reopen Raul Speek Gallery, you can visit us during our usual winter opening hours of Friday to Monday, 11am to 4pm.

And by the end of March, we hope to also reopen our café where you can enjoy hot and cold drinks, homemade cakes and our delicious tapas boards.

Books

A Cuban Diary Front Cover

‘A Cuban Diary’ by Heather Bennett

Among my new books coming out this year is ‘A Cuban Diary’, which will feature my images and memories from our trips to Cuba in 1997, 2005 and 2018. It will be available from around June 2021.

I’ve also been working on my novel, ‘Chapel Cat’, which I’m writing from the perspective of our black cat, Benedict. It outlines his life and thoughts over the last few years, and is due to be printed in March.

Shadow Self exhibition at Oriel y Parc

Reflection

Reflection

In May 2021, don’t miss the Shadow Self exhibition at Oriel y Parc in St Davids.

Shadow Self is my ongoing project with photographer Philip Clarke, which sees us both using pictures to illustrate single words and phrases.

Meanwhile, work is underway to bring out a book that will include the Shadow Self work so far, plus associated writings. This is expected to come out in late summer 2021.

Birds and nature

Blue Tit At The Chapel

Blue tit at the Old Chapel, Solva

I’m producing a new range of greeting cards featuring birds from Solva, with facts about each bird on the back. I’ve been inspired by the Victorian bird books I’ve been collecting, in which the birds are given personalities.

I’ll be using recycled paper for the cards and envelopes because of our commitment to running our business more sustainably.

Plus, I’m working with Raul on a book about Solva birds, which will be filled with his artwork and my writing.

What else?

Covid-19 has prevented the usual amount of travelling we’re able to do. We’ve had to cancel our trip to northern Scotland, as well as our return to Morocco, and our slow journey through France to Orgiva in Andalusia (an area I lived in briefly and where I still have many friends).

Flower

Early morning frost

Instead, I’ve spent time wandering around locally, which has made me love the area more than ever. I’ve produced a series of still-life works and photographs of birds, and have amassed a large collection of images of flowers.

I’ve also been busy sorting out my holiday cottage, Rivendell, here in Solva, which sits in an idyllic riverside location and is available for bookings.

Raul Speek

Warbrook Creative has also completed a revamp of Raul’s website in time for 2021. Raul has been working throughout the pandemic, producing beautiful new paintings, but has been missing our visitors to the Old Chapel.

Online shop

If you’re looking for a special photograph to put on display in your home or to give as a gift, you’ll be pleased to know my images are available to buy online, as well as from our shop and gallery in Solva. My images are supplied mounted and come in different sizes.

Browse my website and you’ll also find a variety of greeting cards, books and booklets.

For further information, please send an email to heather@heatherbennett.co.uk or call me on 01437 721907.