Category: Books

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I❤️EK

I Heart EK by Anne Ward

I❤️EK is a tribute to East Kilbride, Scotland’s first new town. I worked there for a few years and admired it everyday from the top deck of a bus. It’s a surprisingly colourful place, with lots of green space and fantastic buildings.

Ladies toilet sign, East Kilbride

Some of the original details are still there, but they are increasingly being erased as buildings get upgraded, or demolished in some cases. This book features many of these modernist moments – original signs and lettering, colourful decoration – collected over the last 20 years.

Two yellow doors, East Kilbride

It took me a long time to finish this book, as I kept going back to take more photos. No regrets though – every time I would wander a little further and find another interesting scene. Some of these places have changed beyond recognition now, but it’s still a great place to wander and soak up the new town optimism.

Westwood Baptist Church, East Kilbride

An added bonus of taking these photos was having some of them used by Roddy Frame (one of EK’s famous musical sons) as a backdrop to his performance of High Land, Hard Rain at Glasgow Concert Hall in 2013. A dream come true for a teenage Aztec Camera fan.

I❤️EK is an A5 photobook containing 60 full colour photographs. It is fifth in a series of photobooks and costs £10 including UK P+P.

Buy now.

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New book: Sign Here

Sign Here, a photobook about signs by Anne Ward

A new book, called Sign Here is now available in the shop. It’s the fourth in a series of photobooks – a collection of signs – old and new, from the hand-lettered and beautifully drawn, to the idiosyncratic and frankly falling-apart. This was the first book I started laying out, as I like signs and have been photographing them for years, but for some reason the other three books jumped the queue.

Here are some favourites:

St Boniface Kirk sign, Papa Westray, Orkney
Papa Westray, Orkney

Blue plaque: Mrs Humphrey's House - Temporary Hospital for scurvy ridden whale men who had been trapped in the ice for months
Stromness, Orkney
Gym sign, Dalmarnock
Dalmarnock, Glasgow
No Parking: Children's Play Area
Wanlockhead

Sign Here is £8 including UK P+P.

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A Parade of Shops: Window shopping

Mannequins in Ernest Whiteley's shop window, Bridlington

Some more photos from new photobook, A Parade of Shops. This time, a selection of shop windows. Above is Ernest Whiteley & Co in Bridlington, a truly stunning ladies outfitter, comfortable in its time warp. More photos at Modern Mooch.

J.M.Barnardo's shop window, Dublin

This is the window of J.M. Barnardo in Dublin, who claim to be the world’s oldest furrier. Opened in 1812, the founder’s son Dr Thomas John went on to found Barnardo’s charity.

Ladies' outfitter, Biggar

I find this arrangement, from a ladies’ clothes shop in Biggar, very soothing to look at.

Tam Shepherd's Trick Shop, Glasgow

Finally, one of the few remaining joke shops, Tam Shepherd’s. Serving Glasgow’s guisers, partygoers and budding magicians since 1886. Still family run, its windows are always a treat to look at.

A Parade of Shops is available for £10 including UK P+P. See more of what’s inside.

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A Parade of Shops: The Specialists

George Mackay, Bowling Green Bowl Maker, Edinburgh
A beauty from Edinburgh.

The first run of Little Shops is now sold out – thanks for your orders. A Parade of Shops can now be ordered for delivery next week.

Mevagissey Shark Angling Centre

An unexpected find in Mevagissey.

Victoria Watchmakers, an old shop from Victoria Road in Glasgow

One from Victoria Road in Glasgow.

sid & jane camera, Warwick

I love everything about this, from modesty of the lower case names, to the wooden frontage and the lettering that looks like it’s made from giant Letraset (from Warwick)

Burgess Decor & Thimbles, Dingwall

A niche offering from Dingwall.

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A Parade of Shops: The Maximalists

The Aquarium, Glasgow
Pet shop / Eye test, Glasgow

Following on from The Minimalists, here are the Maximalists, where more is definitely…more. These all feature in new book A Parade of Shops – a celebration of little shops and shopfronts.

Ice Cream, Ice Cream, Great Yarmouth
So good they named it twice, Southport

You’ve got to admire the dedication of the shopkeeper who hauls this in and out every day.

Fancy Fair 59
What’s it called? Er, not sure, Great Yarmouth

Classic British combination of summer paraphernalia with easy to grab umbrellas.

Best Steak Pies in Glasgow

A Parade of Shops will be out next week. Early copies with the title Little Shops are currently on sale for £6.

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A Parade of Shops: The Minimalists

Westport, Cupar
Cupar

After yesterday’s big announcement, I had a brainwave and decided to change the title from Little Shops to A Parade of Shops. That seems more fitting. Unfortunately I had the brainwave after ordering some copies, so the first batch (called Little Shops) is reduced to £6 until the reprints arrive. If you don’t mind a different title, it’s the same book inside.

R. L. Broom, Stromness

Anyway, to business. As well as historic and photogenic shopfronts, I wanted to include some where there is barely any shopfront at all. This one from Stromness in Orkney looks like it was designed to withstand the elements.

Hole in the Wall, Stoke-on-Trent
Hole in the Wall, Stoke-on-Trent

The Hole in the Wall in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent was the last remaining oatcake shop of its kind. Staffordshire oatcakes, (very different to Scottish oatcakes) were sold out of the window of a terraced house. The whole area was being redeveloped and we got there just before it closed for good. The oatcakes were delicious, and happily, they’re back under new management.

John Bell Electronics and Vape Shop, Oban
John Bell, Oban

Honourable mention for selling both gadgets and gizmos.

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Coming soon: Little Shops

Little Shops - a photobook by Anne Ward

After much swithering, I’ve finished photobook 3: Little Shops. As the title suggests, it’s a book full of little shops, shopfronts and shop windows – from the historic to the hysterical.

Here’s a sneak peak of what’s inside – Part 1: The classics

John R. Ferguson, Gatehouse of Fleet
C. Antoniou tailors, London
C. Antoniou, 248 Gray’s Inn Road, London
J D Adam, Brechin
J.D. Adam, 29 St David St, Brechin (shopfront now gone)
Optometrist, Burntisland
Ferrier & Mackinnon, 129 High Street, Burntisland

Little Shops is available to pre-order for £8 including postage. It will be published in early May.

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New book: Chips and Ice Cream

Chips and Ice Cream by Anne Ward

Here’s a new photobook called Chips and Ice Cream. It’s a collection of 60 photos of classic cafes and chippies – a follow-up to Beside the Seaside.

Chips and Ice Cream - Ritz spread
The Ritz, Millport

These photos have been taken over the past 17 years, in cafes around the UK.

Chips and Ice Cream - Brucciani's spread
Brucciani’s, Morecambe

Some are legendary and have become tourist attractions in their own right.

The Savoy, Brechin

Others are quiet – out of the way and beautifully peaceful.

Kings Cafe/Queens Cafe, Glasgow (RIP)

Many of them have closed now. Two Glasgow cafes that have been open forever closed while I was editing the book, which makes the ones remaining feel even more precious. Support your local caff!

Copies cost £8 from the shop. Price includes UK postage.