Leamington photographer gets into the café culture

Hilary Roberts, who took up photography as a hobby when her aunt bought her a camera 25 years ago, is now a Master of the International Federation of Photographic Art, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.

Her images, of both local scenes and pictures taken further afield, can often be seen at venues around south Warwickshire and may be familiar to many.

Eight of them are now on display at Pastelaria Portuguesa in Coten End, Warwick, until Wednesday. The exhibition has been organised through Warwickshire Artists, of which Hilary is s member.

Hilary, who was born in Yorkshire, but spent most of her life in the Leamington area, said: “I do quite a lot of local images and commissioned pictures of people’s houses, as well as landmarks such as Warwick Castle.

“Lately, I have been taking lots of views of Regency Leamington as part of an exhibition at Gallery 150 about the Linden Arches.

“I also like to take photographs around the world.”

A former inspector of residential and nursing homes, Hilary has never had any formal photographic training, but as she is now retired, she devotes much of her time to taking pictures, as well as being a volunteer at Gallery 150 in Leamington.

She said: “I like creating images on Photoshop. I like adapting photographs, making them look painterly and producing things that people like to look at.”

Hilary will be exhibiting and selling her work at the Leamington Contemporary Arts Fair in Livery Street next Saturday (August 25), while her work will also be on display at the Loft Theatre in Victoria Colonnade in September and at the Spa Centre balcony bar in November.