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English fairy photographer Charlotte Bird revisited the Beck at Cottingley in West Yorkshire, England; nearly a century after the two cousins Elsie Wright and Francis Griffiths found and photographed (allegedly) fairies at the bottom of the garden. Charlotte’s stunning fairy photographs evoke imagery of the Edwardian and Victorian era; they touch the heart with their playfulness and innocence. Set against a backdrop of enchanting woodlands and streams, Cottingley beck has once again been brought to life by the spirit of the Fay...

Charlotte’s images re capture (with modern facilities) the early photographic fakery caught on camera by the cousins in 1917. Those famous early photographs were said to be genuine - completely fooling the experts of the time including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Kodak.

Charlotte made a trip to Cottingley in October 2005 and photographed the landscape in and around the beck for a series called ‘Tales from Cottingley’. Charlotte believes she saw a fairy while photographing at the beck, but at first mistook it for a butterfly, yet it was too large for a butterfly and too small for a bird and it had filmy wings. It hovered above for a while before fluttering off into the trees.  Totally mesmerised she was too late to take a photograph.

Once the background scenes were photographed another photo shoot was carried out in local woods near her home, where children were dressed up and encouraged to use their imaginations and play freely, thus allowing the photographs to look more natural and less posed.

Once the photographic work is complete the artwork begins.

Backgrounds and subjects are magically merged; each finished picture could be made up from several photographs that may include small detail shots with lanterns, toadstools, story books etc, and many hours are spent before the finished picture emerges in all its glory.

Charlotte’s series entitled ‘Common house fairies’ depicts fairies at play and repose around the house, using everyday household items and toys as backdrops, giving the images a ‘timeless appeal.’

Charlotte was born in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England, in 1958 where

the family were stationed - her Father was in the R.A.F.

Charlotte’s father often read fairy stories and poetry to her before bed and it is to these that she owes her love of the little folk.  The family left Suffolk when Charlotte was five, and came to live in Wallasey, near Liverpool, where she still resides, with her husband Brian.

Charlotte started photography at the age of seven, her father was a keen photographer and printer – and had a darkroom in the cellar of the house.

Although Charlotte had dabbled in photography in her early years, it wasn’t until her two children had grown up that she took it up seriously.  Attending the local college - Charlotte finished with a Diploma in photography, qualifying with seven distinctions.

Enchanted by the work of the mid Victorian’s, especially fairies and the Pre-Raphaelites - whose influence helped Charlotte to develop a unique style.

Charlotte’s awareness that fact and fantasy could co-exist became the very heart of her photographic work and may also explain its illustrative nature. In particular, her fairy studies form a mutual and loving game of private dreams, played out among secret gardens, woodlands and other beautiful places. Charlotte’s work will soon be available on fine bone china, Mouse mats, Place settings and coasters

Charlotte’s prints are giclees and of archival quality

Note all mounts and prints if not mounted now carry an embossed logo stamp as a mark of authenticity. 1032010