Charlotte Bird -- Artists profile "Cottingley revisited -- A modern day fairytale "

English fairy photographer Charlotte Bird revisited the Beck at Cottingley in West Yorkshire, England, nearly a century after the two cousins Elsie Wright and Francis Griffiths found and photographed (allegedly) fairies at the bottom of their garden............Charlottes stunning fairy photographs evoke imagery of the Edwardian and Victorian era, they touch the heart with their playfulness and innocence. Set against a backdrop of enchanting woodlands and streams, Cottingley beck has once again been brought to life by the spirit of the Fay...

This recent fairy work reiterates (with modern facilities) the early photographic fakery caught on camera by the cousins in 1917. Though some of these photographs are said to be genuine others fooled the experts with their realistic dancing fairies, taken at the beck and in Cottingley woods, literally at the bottom of their garden. Charlotte made the trip there in October 2005 and photographed the backdrops for a series called ‘Tales from Cottingley’. Charlotte believes she saw a fairy while photographing at the beck, but at first mistook it for a butterfly, yet it was too large for a butterfly and too small for a bird and it had filmy wings. It hovered above for a while before fluttering off into the trees. Totally mesmerised she was too late to take a photograph. Charlotte’s fairies were added later and another photo shoot was carried out in local woods.

Local Children were dressed up and allowed to play freely. The children were encouraged to re- enact stories they had read, so that the photographs would look more natural, and less posed.

Charlotte’s new work entitled ‘Common house fairies’ depicts fairies playing around the house. Using everyday household items and toys as a backdrop, and having what could be described as ‘timeless appeal.’

Charlotte is also famous for her atmospheric Liverpool and Wirral scenes
Potted Autobiography

Charlotte Bird was born in Bury St Edmunds in Norfolk, England, in 1958.
Her family was stationed there with her Father who was in the R.A.F.

Her Father often read fairy stories and poetry to her before bed and it is to these that she owes her love of the little folk.

She left Norfolk when she was five and the family came to live in Wallasey, near Liverpool, where she still resides. She now lives with her partner Brian and has two sons Daniel and Jacob.

Charlotte started photography at the age of seven. Her Father was a keen photographer and printer and the family set up a darkroom in the cellar of the house. Although Charlotte had dabbled in photography in her early years, it wasn’t until her two children had grown up that she took it up seriously. Attending the local college. Charlotte finished with a Diploma in photography, qualifying with seven distinctions.

Enchanted by the work of the mid Victorian’s, especially fairies and the Pre – Raphaelites, she developed a style that was influenced by these. Charlotte’s awareness that fact and fantasy could co’ exist became the very heart of her photographic work and may also explain its illustrative nature. Her work also symbolises her preoccupation of the present’s interaction with the past. In particular, her fairy studies form a mutual and loving game of private dreams, played out among secret gardens, woodlands and other beautiful places.

Charlotte’s work will soon be available on jig saw puzzle, Stationary and other gifts.

Charlotte also enjoys writing fairy poetry, and one day hopes to publish a book containing the fairy poems and photographs. Charlotte’s open edition hand signed and limited edition fine art prints are printed on archival paper, using pigment inks (known as a ‘geclee’) and are fade proof up to 150 years. See the web site www.fairyphotographs.co.uk and www.charlottebirdstudios.co.uk for other Liverpool work .If you are interested in Charlotte’s work. Contact: Charlotte Bird. On .0151 639 1747 or email info@fairyphotographs.co.uk cd of the full works available free.