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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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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.

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I do like to be Beside the Seaside

Beside The Seaside: a photobook by Anne Ward

For the last few months (actually, more like years) I’ve been sorting through 18 years of digital photos scattered over hard disks, HD cards and even floppy disks. I almost lost them all once, and after that I decided it was time to make something a bit more permanent, for my own records if nothing else.

Crazy golf

So here is Beside The Seaside – book one in what will be a series of photobooks, self-published in very small editions. Featuring 60 full colour photos of the British seaside, it is a neat and sturdy A5 softcover book. 

Chip cannibal / seaside shelter

You too can have a copy, if you so desire. The price of £8 includes UK Postage and Packaging (Royal Mail second class). If you’d like the book signed or dedicated to someone please add a note during checkout.