I Believe
Do you believe in yourself as much as you believe in Father Christmas, God or Unicorns?
New Online workshop for the New Year
13 January 2026 - 24 March 2026
(6 fortnightly sessions alternate Tuesdays at 1830GMT)
Following the quickly sold out success of my limited numbers online workshop ‘The Quiet Eye’ I have been asked to run another by a number of people.
Forget the pressure of reinvention and high expectations. I invite you to ease into the new year at a more gentle pace, building a foundation based on reflection and creativity.
In a world that demands we move fast, Winter offers us a sacred permission slip to pause. ‘The Quiet Eye’ is my invitation to synchronise your inner rhythm with this stillness. This 12-week online workshop is a sanctuary—more than a course, it’s a chance to step off the treadmill of “perfect shots.” Whether you use a full kit or just an iPhone, we will trade the epic for the intimate, using the camera as an anchor to deepen your connection to the here and now.
Peace Lily
Still life has been a sanctuary and solace for me over the years, I relish the connection with the subject, the conversation between the subject and the artist. When a subject gives its all to the artist and the artist gives all of themselves in return something magical happens. This Peace Lily had been calling to me for days, all I needed to do was pause long enough to answer the questions the Lily had asked me.
Hi,
I love Christmas, I still get excited about it all; the cheesy movies, mince pies and time with my friends and family.
Christmas for me is a time of faith and belief. My Christian faith is central to my life and bizarrely so is my belief in the magic of Christmas, the jolly man in the red suit too!
As a creative I have to believe in magic, that is my own magic. It is something that is a core value , to I believe in my work and the processes that I go through.
Many of us suffer with self doubt, insecurity and a lack of confidence, this doesn’t mean you can’t believe in the power of your magic.
My parents always urged me to follow my dreams, to chase them and even if I had no idea where I was going.
When I was a teenager I wrote down a list of things that I wanted to achieve in my life; to be a photographer, to work for a national newspaper, to have a front page image of every national newspaper and to be Picture Editor of The Times.
Did I know how to achieve any of these things? No, but I took the opportunities that presented themselves and made the most of them, but most importantly I believed that they would happen.
Every single one of them came true.
But I whole-hearted believe that writing down the things I wanted out of life let the God and universe know my ambition. Having ambition, or dreams is not a bad thing.
As creatives we need dreams to help inspire and guide us.
The magic I am talking about is not perfect, it is messy, disorganised, at times chaotic and occasionally disruptive, it does not follow a linear path but leads you on an adventure that at times has scared the pants off me! But also has brought to the place I am today.
Start trusting in the magic and believing you deserve the good things in life, then they will happen.
In the film ‘Field of Dreams’ The protagonist, Ray, played by Kevin Costner, follows his heart and builds a baseball diamond after hearing voices saying ‘If you build it, he will come’ the whole movie is about emphasising the power of faith and believing in something that doesn’t seem rational at first.
It also highlights that sometimes the things you thought you wanted most are less important than the people you have in your life. It also suggests that dreams and responsibilities are interconnected and that a leap of faith can bring meaning back into one’s ordinary life.
None of my dreams have seemed rational or mainstream to many of the people around me, being a believer is about resilience, overcoming the set backs and the pain, not giving up on your dreams or yourself.
What better way is there to go into the new year as a believer?
At the beginning of each year I buy lots of magazines and cut out images, phrases and words that resonate with me, that reflect my values, dreams and heartfelt desires or just ideas of what might make me a better person. I stick them on a board and hang those boards in my studio to remind me of them but also to reinforce them into my being.
Here are the last couple of years vison boards.
I’m not sharing these to say look how great my life is, but to offer a thought to you that if you believe in something enough it will happen - maybe not as you exactly want it but in a way that you can manage it.
Over the years I have included things like finding a studio, finding a partner, writing a book, moving to the coast, incredibly many of them have happened and I truly believe that it is because I believe in my own magic.
I needed to be more specific about the lottery win though as £2.50 wasn’t what I had in mind!
So over the Christmas period why don’t you make a list of the things you most want to achieve, stick them in your diary, or journal or add them to a board of images and words, place them somewhere you can see them and believe in yourself and the magic that is with in you.
Be positive about what you want to achieve, be positive about your art because it really matters and only you can create it.
Christmas is also a challenging and lonely time for so many, if you know someone who will be on their own over Christmas try to remember them and send a card, text or call them just to let them know they are not abandoned and that they being around matters to you.
Thank you for your time today
Best wishes
Paul
My first book “Still - a mindful practice for photographers” will be on sale from 6th February in all good bookshops and some not so good ones. You can preorder the book so you get it on the publication day.
“More than a photography book, Still is a must-have guide for anyone seeking calm and clarity in their creative life.”
Thank you Peter I’ll have a listen - I don’t think anyone believes in their own magic all the time
I believe in you, Paul!