de la Warr Gallery Rye

On reflection, the process of following my new passion, photography, has helped me to heal
emotionally and spirititually, enabling me to open the de la Warr Gallery on 25th May 2008.

Now, I have another opportunity to find new gifts in my photography. I call this new time in my life
"Third Time Lucky". As in October 2008 I was diagnosed with cancer for the third time. Having been
in the gallery for six months and loving every minute taking photographs, talking to individuals
visiting my gallery, giving me such encouraging praise (some pop in to the gallery just to see Pip
who loves the attention). All of this gives me the strength to carry on.

With my website and gallery, I hope to inspire others to follow their passion even with or without
tragedy. Every cloud has a silver lining, which often appears out of the blue, or in disguise as mine
has!

A question I get asked, or people think about asking: "Are you connected to the de la Warr
family or Pavilion at Bexhill on Sea"? In 1066 two cousins name John and Richard de la Warr
came to England to help William the Conquerer at the Battle of Hastings. Which brother my family
have descended from - "Who Knows"! I am grateful for a lovely maiden name.

That Christmas, my son Tristan and daughter Katie presented me with
a camera and during the cancer treatment I began taking photographs
of my comings and goings. After being given the all clear, I decided to
change my life and move to the Old Town of Hastings with my dog Pip
and cat Reg. We settled in nicely but in September 2007 I received
the shattering news - the breast cancer had returned! Pip and I spent
time walking, enjoying the natural beauty of the sea and surrounds,
living for the moment and taking pictures.

My passion for taking photographs did not go unnoticed as people
asked to buy them and it wasn't long before I realised I had
discovered a wonderful gift within myself. it was through the
encouragement of others that I began to realise I had the eye to
capture the beauty and meaning within a subject. I believe this came
from having cancer.

It is strange how life presents us with the greatest
gifts just when we least expect them, and out of
despair and tragedy a new and brighter future
appears. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at
Christmas 2004, which was a devastating blow as
both my mother and sister had already died of the
same illness prior to me being diagnosed.