A New Cottage Garden extracts in Country Living Magazine

Thank you to the wonderful Country Living Magazine for taking four seasonal extracts from my new book, ‘A New Cottage Garden’; the first of these, the ‘late summer edit’ is out in this month’s magazine and looks fab (if I say so myself!). Thanks also to Karen Burgess and Annie Stanford for allowing me to use their gardens as inspiration. There are inspirational gardens throughout the book (not least Tom Coward’s work at Gravetye Manor and Beth Tarling’s at Seaview Cottage in Cornwall)… without these, the book would only be a half of what it is!

The book is available on special offer on this website, and otherwise out at all good bookshops and of course the usual online sellers. Thanks for looking, and if you want a signed copy, please let me know through the web form. Happy gardening! Mark

Glorious Mapperton

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Glorious Mapperton

I had a wonderful time last week photographing at Mapperton estate in Dorset, a morning and an evening of the most sumptuous light, fabulous fresh early-summer growth and romantic statuary set amongst topiary, tranquil pools and a magnificent orangery. I first went to Mapperton twenty plus years ago for one of the newspapers (possibly the Telelgraph gardening section) and it has always been one of those gardens that has lingered in the mind…. a photographers delight, it’s situated in a sheltered valley and has a pleasing contrast between the formality of the topiary and statues, and the wilder edges with much more informal planting. Bliss…

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Last Easter, Photographing Flowering Cherries for Which Gardening Magazine

What a difference a year makes! last easter I was shooting Flowering Cherries for a piece for Which Gardening Magazine… this year I am sitting with lots of layers on, doing admin and sorting stock photography; as I seem to have been all winter! anyway, the local farmer says its going to be a HOT summer (you heard it here first!)… gosh I hope so…

Now I can hardly hear myself with the sound of hailstones on the conservatory roof…. have a good easter one and all, and speak soon I hope. Mx

'A New Cottage Garden' finished! and will be published on August 8th 2024..

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At last I can properly announce that this labour of love is finished and being printed! more than two years in the making, it’s the story of a small patch of grass in the most southerly village in Devon that I made in to a garden. I wrote and photographed the whole project (looking back, it really has taken up most of my energy.. physical and mental!) and learned so much about basic gardening. The book is for novice gardeners who want to transform a little bit of ground in to their own little bit of paradise. I’m not an expert gardener, but it’s my passion, and believe me, it’s all achievable. Learn what a cottage garden is, how to create your own version and get your hands dirty! Don’t you know it used to be the new rock and roll. Or baking, or whatever ;-)

Many thanks to my fab publishers Pimpernel Press…

A New Cottage Garden, Pimpernel Press august 2024

Please do let me know whether you’d like to go on my newsletter list… then I can tell you when and where you can buy said book ;-)

I don’t send out many newsletters, so don’t worry you will NOT be deluged I promise! thanks for reading this and don’t forget to keep your shears sharp …

Rental Property Photography

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Rental Property Photography

I’m often asked to photograph clients rental properties, whether serviced apartments, bed and breakfast properties or holiday stays. Unlike a private residence, or even a luxury hotel, properties used for short term stays are often rather simple and probably a bit stark. There won’t be much in the way of personality, the decoration can be a bit ‘utilitarian’ and it can be difficult to find a hint of warmth. I recently shot this place in Cheltenham though, which had been decorated beautifully, and importantly, with the ‘eco conscious’ traveller at heart.

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Photography at The Roebuck Pub for Greene King

I spent a busy day in very early January shooting a newly refurbished pub in Richmond, West London for pub conglomerate Greene King. In an elevated position overlooking the river Thames, it is a lovely place, much neglected over the years, but now back to its best. Great spot, warm interiors and a cosy feel. What more do you want from a pub? oh yes, the beer is excellent too… An old boozer back to it’s best. Tricky lighting to deal with, so we utilised the available light and had to pop in some sunnier views that I took the following day… thanks to Photoshop!

I do a lot of hospitality photography, so please do get in touch if you need anything. Reasonable rates, flexible approach and very friendly… ask me for some samples, I shoot hotels, restaurants, pubs, spas, and venues of all sorts. I look forward to hearing from you.

Frost in the garden. A mixed blessing.

Frost in the garden. A mixed blessing.

Winter can be a tricky time for wildlife and garden photographers; if it’s not the rain, then it’s the wind. Or it’s cold. There aren’t so many flowers, and as for the light, well, there just isn’t any sometimes. But, on the odd occasion, there is frost!

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Gardener's Delight

Welcome to my first newsletter and blog of 2024. Many thanks for opening and hopefully reading this, and a happy new year to you all…

Above and Below, sample pages from the soon-to-be-published ‘A New Cottage Garden’ by Mark Bolton

A New Cottage Garden will be published in august this year, and I am delighted with how it looks. Many thanks to the fabulous Pimpernel Press, and the excellent Sarah Pyke who designed the book. I photographed and wrote the book, but Sarah stitched it together, and Jo Christian led me on through the whole process. It was a massive job for me, but as a mad keen gardener it was one I loved doing. I know every single clod of earth in that little patch and have learnt so much along the way; how to prune, mulch, sow and pick. I also met some amazing people along the way; as it’s a cottage garden book, I was keen to see Gravetye Manor (the home of William Robinson, one of the most important figures in cottage garden history) and luckily I was commissioned by Which Gardening Magazine to shoot there every month for a year (a project about fruit tree maintenance through the year). Tom Coward and his team were so helpful, and whilst learning a lot about fruit, I also found the time to study the garden and the planting style that Robinson developed during his years living at the Manor house. Please do keep an eye out for the book, but don’t worry I will remind you!

I have been a garden photographer (and interiors) for more years than I care to remember now, and have been principle photographer on many books. I also work regularly for all the gardening magazines, and have worked commercially for many garden product suppliers. I am always interested in discussing possible shoots, features, interesting new plants and lovely gardens. Do get in touch with your ideas and thanks for looking at this. I will send another newsletter next month (thats the plan at the moment!) and in the meantime, happy (chilly!) gardening. I’m looking forward to some snowdrops (thanks to Avon Bulbs for letting me shoot these four below last year); and would always be interested to know of any nice winter/spring gardens you may have heard about… Mark