Hitting the Road

March marks a stepping up of my shooting journey. So far, I've travelled wholly within the northern parts of the UK to shoot with models — Manchester and Liverpool mainly.

Recently, I ventured up to Barrie Spence's Pavilion Studio, near Edinburgh, to shoot with the fab Caterini in a day.

My new-found freedom of retirement means I'm able to travel more now that I no longer need to consider leave entitlement etc when figuring out what I want to do.

So later this month, I'm hitting the road. Alice (2002 Boxster S) and I will be undertaking a 6 day 4 country (not including the UK) and 8 - shoot road trip. It's the realisation of a desire I've had for a while, and the test run for more of these kinds of trips.

Day 1

I'll be reuniting with Holly (Ivory Flame) again on my way down to the Eurotunnel. We'll be getting together at AURA near Northampton. This will be my first time at this studio, and I'm excited to see what Holly and I can conjure up in a space that gets rave reviews.

Following the shoot, it's a dash to Folkestone to get an early evening crossing on the Eurotunnel and on to Antwerp for some much-needed sleep.

Day 2

The original plan on day 2 was to be up and about and try to take in the memorials and beaches related to Dunkirk's part in the Second World War. However, I've managed to arrange a short shoot in the morning with Kira M. I literally arranged this yesterday evening. Now to change accommodation plans!

So now the plan is to get to Antwerp on day 1 and then meet Kira at the station and head to Raf Van den Bogaert's studio, Zilverbeek shoot. The afternoon will be spent with Netherlands-based, Irish model, Olive. Really looking forward to meeting Raf, Kira and Olive, and seeing what can be created in his space.

After the shoot and Olive is safely back on the train to Rotterdam, I'm overnighting near Breda in the Netherlands en route to one of Day 3's destinations.

Day 3

A not too early start to Day 3, a short drive on to Utrecht and a model I've wanted to work with for some time, Emma Helena. She's always struck me as a model with bags of character, artful styling, and I'm fascinated to see what we and Henk, her poodle, can get up to. The venue is a studio that is unfortunately closing at the end of March, Abintiwari — a fab natural light space. Let's hope we do it justice.

With a mid-afternoon finish, it's back to Alice and onto to Solingen in Germany.

Day 4

The weekend will be spent in a designfabrik that an artist has lovingly created. It looks like a great space, and I'm hopeful that the three shoots here will be both varied and full of difference to my usual studio work. Though I will have my mini studio set up if needed.

I've ensured there is clearance to shoot there and on Day 4 I'll be working with Susann.

I expect to be pretty knackered at this point, so have only lined up the one shoot on day 4. Once done, I can have a wander and see what delights Solingen has to offer.

Day 5

The next day will be a busy one. A drive to Essen to collect Sarah.

Quick stop to drop Sarah off at the station after our shoot and then back to work with Sia in the afternoon.

Then sleep, sleep and more sleep…

Day 6

Another long day to end this shoot-packed trip. Up and at em to drive back to Raf's place in Antwerp to shoot the rather fabulous Christall

With the last shoot in the bag, it will be the long journey back home, to rest and get hopefully many wonderful pieces of art into production.

Of course, the fruits of these labours will be shared with you all in the coming weeks and months, along with as much behind the scenes stuff as I can shoot and detail.