Although Derry had illustrated other countryside books, he was not familiar with the Lakeland Fells but AW was extremely helpful. Once that first project got under way, Derry’s task was eased by AW’s descriptive writing and, even more importantly, his outline sketch of what each photograph should look like. It was like walking with a hand drawn ‘sat nav’ that beeped at one’s destination! ‘Fellwalking with Wainwright’ was Derry’s first encounter with the Cumbrian Mountains but, given that books success, it was certainly not his last and he gradually became more and more familiar with AW’s favourites. It was sad that they could not scale the Fells together due to the author’s physical problems. However, when each mountain had been completed and the film processed, Derry packed his slide projector and screen alongside his equipment and after a day’s photography gave an after dinner "slide-show" at AW's and Betty's Kendal home.

About the speaker

Derry Brabbs studied photography at college and his first job was with TVTimes Magazine. He later moved north to work for Yorkshire TV and then went into advertising. A call one day from a London publisher needing a northern based photographer resulted in Derry being commissioned to illustrate ‘James Herriot’s Yorkshire’. Years later when researching other potential projects he realised that the Pennine Way was approaching its 20th anniversary and his publisher suggested Alfred Wainwright as author. They met up with AW and Betty in Buxton and then had a short stroll up the first section of the Pennine Way. AW agreed to do it but, only if Derry first photographed a book on the Lakeland Fells! The next two years were both stressful and memorable as Derry had never set foot on a Lake District mountain nor a bleak pathway through harsh terrain. Both books were successful and they teamed up to write and illustrate five more.

This event is in support of the Alfred Wainwright exhibition hosted by The Armitt, co-curated by Chris Butterfield.