THE STORY SO FAR...
I have been fishing for carp for 35 years now, since 1988, and unbelievably it was 26 years ago, way back in 1997, that I did some some drawings for Terry Hearn's book 'In Pursuit of the Largest' - aka the modern carp fishers bible. I was only 17 and still at school and it was the first book I worked on, mad thinking back to that now!
Since then I have illustrated a dozen other angling books, for the likes of Rod Hutchinson, Oz Holness, Mike Willmott, Tim Paisley and Martin Bowler, amongst others. This will be the 10th publication I have compiled myself; starting with the 'Forgotten Chapters' in 2010, followed by four big Subsurface volumes, the 'Northern Chapters' with Sammy, and recently the three SUBmag issues. It is fair to say working with carp fishing stories and images has been one of my favourite things to do over the years.
Finally, I had the push to write my own book and carved out the time to do it this year. The 496 pages follow my winding path from '88, focussing on the seasons between 2004-2022, and tell the story chronologically, for better or worse, of the buzz, the adventures, and the successes and failures of it all.
From Stoneacres to Coate Water, Petty Pool to Mill Lane, from Vinnetrow to Pingewood, Yateley to the Roach Pit, Nutsey to Dinton ... and further afield, through Belgium, France, Germany, Holland and Spain. From the intensity and busiest of the UK circuit, to the wilds and beauty of the raw, public waters of Europe, the book covers it all.
My angling has always just fitted in where it can, between my years teaching art and photography, the publishing projects, running Sub, and the other pursuits I enjoy. If anything that has made those nights on the bank all the more precious and so I hope the stories are relatable to anyone - 30 nights a year being the average - sometimes a few more, sometimes a few less.
I've dug through all the very best of my photos, chosen plenty of new ones that haven't been seen - and there's also four really special guest chapters tucked in there by close friends, to add to the journey.
I've really enjoyed reliving it all and telling the stories - it had also been years since I'd seen most of it. I hope that shines through and you enjoy the words and images as much as I enjoyed putting it all together.
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