About Northern Wild

Hi, I’m John the photographer behind Northern Wild.

I create landscape photographs of the wild places of Northern England and Scotland, but Northern Wild is about much more than simply taking pictures. It is about living close to the landscape and experiencing it in all conditions, the misty dawns, the sudden storms, the quiet evenings, and the moments when the light lasts only a few seconds.

A few years ago, I made a decision that changed the way I photograph. I now live and travel full time in my campervan, Bertha, which has become both my home and my mobile photography base. Vanlife allows me to stay close to the mountains, moorlands, lochs, and coastline that inspire my work, rather than rushing in for a quick visit and driving home before the real atmosphere arrives.

Most of my photographs are created during these journeys through the North York Moors, the Lake District, Northumberland, the Yorkshire coast, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Scottish Highlands. Living on the road gives me the freedom to return to locations repeatedly, wait for the right conditions, and capture places in a more honest and immersive way.

Before Northern Wild became my full time focus, I spent over 16 years teaching creative skills. That experience still shapes everything I do. Whether I’m producing fine art prints, leading a workshop, or working one to one with another photographer, my aim is to make the process relaxed, practical, and encouraging. I know that many people love photography but don’t enjoy the pressure that can come with large groups or overly technical teaching.

For me, the best landscape photography is not about chasing dramatic edits or ticking famous locations off a list. It is about connection, standing in a place long enough to notice the changing light, the movement of weather, and the feeling that made you stop in the first place.

Through Northern Wild, I share that connection through fine art prints, workshops, tuition, and stories from life on the road. If my images make you feel the cold air of a Highland morning, hear the wind across the moors, or remember a place that means something to you, then the photograph has done its job.

Thanks for following the journey. John (Northern Wild)