An exhibition of photographs by local journalist Andrea  Watson will be shown in the Lingfield & Dormansland Community Centre throughout May.

The exhibition, entitled ‘22 countries, one lens’ show images taken over a decade, from 2008 to 2018.  Subjects range from portraits to landscapes and abstract work and many pictures were captured while Andrea was travelling in the course of her work as a journalist.

A collection of four photographs of market traders in Hurghada, Egypt, taken in 2007, are among the earliest. “They are a record of an unforgettable trip to the market with a local man called Mohammed who was well known to the traders which made me less conspicuous but they seemed delighted to be photographed. Sadly, the market has since been modernised and turned into a soulless mall-type place, so I suppose they could now be considered as archive material,” says Andrea.

“Photographing people of the world is endlessly fascinating, but today there are so many pictures taken that in some places you do have to be more careful. This is particularly true of children but in the Caribbean the kids simply beg to be photographed – and they make the most wonderful subjects of course being so natural and vibrant. One of my favourite photos is of the children crossing the road with a stop sign. It was taken in St Kitts. What you don’t see is the teacher who came over and gave the children a good telling off, not that they were doing anything wrong.”

“The light in the Caribbean is wonderful for photography, and of course the first time you see the colours you are blown away.   Another place that I really enjoyed taking pictures was Tunisia. I am so glad that flights have resumed to this beautiful country – despite the terrorist attacks I felt as safe there as I have anywhere in the world.  The people are lovely, and the landscape is too. You can visit the Roman city of Carthage and there is almost no one there so you have a real sense of atmosphere. The same is true for the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.

The Exhibition is on from 1st to 30th May in the Orpen Lounge.  All photographs are for sale. Prints can be ordered in any size and cost from £12 with a mount. Proceeds  will go to the Tibet Society.