Birds of the North Pennines at Bowlees Visitor Centre

Exhibition: Birds of the North Pennines by Cameron Sharp
Bowlees Visitor Centre, 28 March – 30 April 2024

A new exhibition opens this spring at Bowlees Visitor Centre, showcasing the work of a young Teesdale photographer with a passion for wildlife.

Birds of the North Pennines by Cameron Sharp will be open daily at the North Pennines National Landscape’s Bowlees Visitor Centre. Cameron is a wildlife photographer and filmmaker from Teesdale, County Durham. While birds remain his favourite subject, Cameron enjoys photographing and learning about all wildlife from insects to mammals and everything in between.

The exhibition focuses on the many species of birds that can be found in the North Pennines National Landscape. Cameron said, “Since graduating from Bangor University in 2021, birds of prey and the interactions between other avian species have been a particular fascination, with a variety of raptors and owls found within the North Pennines.”

Short-eared owls, Hen harriers and Merlins remain his favourites, and Cameron’s skill in capturing these elusive birds can be seen in the exhibition. However Cameron’s passion for photography and wildlife is not restricted to his own work. He began a Facebook group to help share the wildlife images taken by others in Teesdale. Since its launch in 2020, Teesdale Wildlife Sightings now has over 1400 members and has regular contributions from the community across the North Pennines.

Cameron said, “For over a decade, capturing nature through digital imaging has been my hobby. Later this year, I will return to academia to study Biological Photography and Imaging at the University of Nottingham. I’m hoping that this will open up opportunities in the wildlife filming industry and to be able to make this my career.”

Simon Wilson, Programme Manager at the North Pennines National Landscape team, said: “Its fantastic to have Cameron’s photographs on show at Bowlees. Cameron is a talented photographer, but he also has a real enthusiasm and respect for the wildlife he photographs. Through the work on show here we can see many of the most familiar birds of the North Pennines, as well as some that are seen far less often by visitors.

“We hope that Cameron’s work will give visitors an insight into the birds of the North Pennines, and perhaps inspire more people to look out for their favourite species on their walks from Bowlees and beyond.”

Birds of the North Pennines is on show at Bowlees Visitor Centre until 30 April, open daily from 10am to 4pm, and 10am to 5pm from 1 April.