Story of the founder-Vanessa's story, in a nutshell, in pictures...
The 1980's-the early years....
Exciting times at art college (Farnham, Surrey-it has gone through too many names to mention!)
First venture into picture research with Network Photographers (similar to the Magnum Agency but smaller, based in North London). Involved in many community arts projects but loved the setting up of Monocrone-female photography collective in Lambeth, South London.
Click on
Film Stills and adverts
The late eighties were strange in Thatcher's Britain-very divisive times.
Got used to photographing celebrities. The Comic Strip was really fun but celebrities are just like us and I had another calling. Thank you Robbie Coltraine (RIP) for a starter cheque...
Greenpeace and the environment calling from 1988.
A true highlight as the photographer on a Greenpeace ship with an international crew highlighting the dangers of nuclear missile transportation in the Danish Straits during the Danish Elections in 1988. This involved confronting Russian Naval ships.
The Environmental Picture Library
1989
EPL
Had a light bulb moment whilst on an inbetween job driving cars around the UK. I was walking on a bleak industrial site in East London to collect a diplomatic Mercedes-a limousine.
Established in the autumn of 1989, a very special year. City Road, London EC1
Picture agency covering a very wide rangfe of environmental issues
Major clients: All major UK book publishers, The Guardian, The Indepe
Road trip to Eastern Europe 1990
Demand far outsripped supply for images on pollution.
The Berlin Wall came down in 1989 but Czechoslovakia, Poland and Eastern Germany retained their names for a while.
Picture editor and researcher
The library was sold in 1994 and Vanessa moved to Devon to raise a family.
Freelance picture researcher for many companies but returned to Lonodn part time as a picture editor for Planet Earth Pictures (later swallowed up by media giant Getty Images).
Press and events in Devon
2000-2020 Teacher...
I honed my skills in all weathers for events and press whilst keeping up photographing environmental images and covering Glastonbury for Greenpeace for many years.
2000-2020 Freelance photographer and teacher
Trained as a teacher in 2012 and embarked on an MA in Photography at Plymouth University. Particularly interested in images engaing people in the environment.
2020 Founded Well Image, a social enterprise using creative photography projects to enhance wellbeing.
Working with those with high anxiety, a long term health condition and/or a disability.
The rest is history....