Capturing beauty in the moment defines the creativity of renowned UK travel photographer Polly Edwins. Her work embodies each experience she captures through the power of her lens. The alluring aesthetic showcases rustic tones reminiscent of your favourite fairy tales, serving as a travel scrapbook that invites the audience to experience the journey.
From atmospheric landscapes to charming chocolate box cottages, minimalist interiors to delectable bakeries, the warm colour palette provides inspiration for anyone eager to explore all four corners of the British Isles.
Following her recent stay at The West Range, we sat down with Polly to discuss her career, what powers her imagination and the charm that encapsulates West Cawthorne.
Like many in the industry, Polly’s first introduction to photography was in the form of a hobby, born from a love of documenting the places she would visit. “I was always making scrapbooks and journals and capturing my travels, from a very young age,” explains Polly.
Fast forward to the present day and she is creating content that she shares with thousands, who have the same passion for travel. “I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to turn this lifelong hobby into a job for myself.”
Capturing moments that freeze the notion of time is a crucial component that goes into the work of a photographer and Polly is no different in how she finds inspiration. Diving into what fuels her creativity, she states “I find inspiration from many different places - visiting museums, watching films - other photographers, artists and creator’s work. I also find that just having a change of scenery, even a fictional one, can really inspire me to create.”
Even when something may not look photogenic at an initial glance, Polly’s artistry comes to fruition where she will “try to look beyond the obvious and capture all kinds of different moments or scenes even when they might not seem photogenic on the surface.” This is often where a memory is entwined and Polly describes these moments as “something I always appreciate.” Of course, certain destinations can generate a creative process if the aesthetic is natural and although a difficult decision to select just one, there is a location in particular that has a special place in Polly’s heart - she states, “a couple of years ago I spent a little while in the Scottish Highlands and it truly is such a special place. I think about that trip on a nearly daily basis and look forward to visiting again one day soon.”
The calming nature of West Cawthorne acted as the perfect backdrop for Polly and it was a trip that was needed to reset the creative process. “My stay at West Cawthorne was especially relaxing and restful - the peace and quiet of the surrounding countryside, the minimal and calming interiors - especially in the master bathroom - it all made for a very special and memorable stay,” says Polly. Full immersion into the surroundings on offer at West Cawthorne is clear to see in the way Polly’s content is structured, with shimmering hits of sunshine bringing the neutral palette to life.
Switching off and taking time to pause is imperative for anyone in a creative setting, with each person having a different way of doing this. For Polly, she states that “whenever I get the chance to switch off, I really enjoy reading, watching films (especially when I get to see them at the cinema), taking long walks and spending time with my family and my cat, Lola. I like to make time to go outside for a walk before making dinner and then I’ll try to switch off but it’s very likely I’ll be working on bits and pieces into the evening too.” The importance of routine plays an important role in Polly’s productivity, where slow and peaceful mornings provide clarity and aid the overall process for the rest of the day.
New places and spaces is something that excites Polly, giving her the opportunity to capture something she hasn’t experienced before. When discussing what’s next, she explains “I have a stay booked that takes me to an area of the UK that I haven’t visited or explored before, which I always find really exciting. I’m also hoping to book a trip back to one of my favourite cities later in the year.”
We can’t wait to see what Polly captures next on her travel journey! Be sure to check out Polly's website and follow @polly.florence on instagram for future travel inspo!
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