Clay's Garden Centre, Washington

March has been a month of few updates at ashleycorr.com. I did manage to get out with the camera on a couple of occasions, and the results will come your way shortly, but most of my spare time has been used on expanding my customer base throughout the North-East. Next week will see me follow up two more opportunities to display my photography in well known outlets, so stay tuned for more news about that as and when it announced here on my Blog.

Over the last week I have been negotiating with the director of Clay's Garden Centre in Washington, Tyne & Wear, in the hope of selling my wares through this popular, and rather busy outlet. Good news - Clay's are NOW stocking my work. A quantity of limited edition mounted prints are now available to purchase, along with a selection of postcards, all featuring a local scene that I captured during the different seasons of the calendar year.

Firstly, the mounted prints - initially available in two sizes only, 14x11 inches and 10x8 inches. Mounted in either Ivory or Textured White mountboard (acid free) and signed by myself, the mounts are numbered and available as limited runs. Various scenes can be purchased and they include most of the iconic landmarks in our region, such as Washington Old Hall, Angel Of The North, Penshaw Monument, Durham Cathedral and Roker Pier, amongst others.

The postcards - well, these originally kicked off as a ten card set, after I was commissioned by the Tourist Board in Sunderland to produce 10 different scenes in this format. My postcard collection now stands at 33, all matching and printed on glossy media, which are currently selling in a number of outlets in our region. Clay's Garden Centre are now stocking 15 different postcards from my collection and plans are afoot to display my cards on the front of gift packs, such as biscuit boxes, confectionary, etc. Again, more details on this to follow, as and when.

So, if you're in the region, why not pop along and get yourself through the doors of Clay's Garden Centre. There's a nice coffee shop on the premises too, so sit yer arse down and admire those postcards and prints you've just bought (wink). No shame, have I? he he.

Until the next time - see ya,

Ash

Washington Old Hall

Having bought a National Trust membership and not used it in months, I thought it was high time I got my act together and got my money's worth. It was a lovely warm day and I didn't fancy a big drive, opting to stay local and pay a visit to Washington Old Hall. I grabbed a few photo's inside the hall during my last visit in 2008, so this time I hoped to grab a few in the grounds. The Jacobean Gardens are very photogenic and depending on what time of year you visit, there's a variety of colour in the many plants within the grounds. The adjacent Nuttery didn't have a great deal to offer although it was the ideal 'Secret Garden' to get away from it all.

I was lucky enough to photograph the intricate topiary near the site entrance, shortly after a fresh cut from the resident gardener. The photograph was very similar to the one I shot last year which was used on the St Benedict's 2009 calendar that I contributed to. Well worth a visit.

Ash