After 30 years as a Personal Assistant to large Government and Educational institutions in the West Midlands, and at the age of 50, after receiving her first DSLR camera, Valerie decided to change her career.
Valerie could be seen with a camera whenever possible, particularly on holiday or family gatherings. The love of photography and capturing moments in time lead Valerie to study at Sandwell College for a Higher National Certificate in Photography followed by a BA (Hons) Degree in Photography at University of Wolverhampton.
Valerie has been exhibited at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery; Art’s Café, The Public, West Bromwich; The Mander Centre Wolverhampton and The George Wallis Building, Wolverhampton together with private commissions to provide backdrops for a production of Oliver for a local theatre company; promotional images for 3 local comedians and Chance Heritage Trust; portraits for Aldridge Golf Club as well as photographing the Spring 23 front cover of Prosper a Black Country business magazine.
Between 2021 and 2023, Valerie has been photographing local High Streets as a social and historical record of how the High Streets are changing at the start of the 21st century, like the work created by Martin Parr in the 70’s and 80’s and his ability to capture ordinary people doing ordinary things – at the seaside, in supermarkets, in their homes, or at village fairs. Parr’s work shows the change of fashion; society and the way we lived.
Valerie’s recent exhibition was mixed media using digital photography and screen-printing and looked at how small-town High Streets have changed and evolved from providing essential goods such as bread and milk; fruit and vegetables and pots and pans to more service-lead establishments such as nail technicians; barbers; hairdressers and charity shops.
Now studying for her Masters Degree in Visual and Digital Communication at Wolverhampton University, Valerie is now looking at how objects, in particular shoes, can portray a person's personality, and status.