What a wonderful commission! To spend a summer weekend wandering the streets of Southport, photographing and interviewing people in love.

It was all part of a new exhibition to mark the renovation of the town’s spectacular arts and culture centre, The Atkinson. Their re-opening exhibition – Love Stories: Romance, Obsession and Heartbreak – includes such classics as John Collier’s epic painting ‘Lilith’ … and my photographs from the flower show and prom!

Some portraits were pre-arranged, willing subjects having answered a newspaper call-out, but most were of people stopped on the street and encouraged to take part.

“Oh yes, we are both very romantic. That was the first thing I asked him when we met, are you a romantic? And yes, he does buy me red roses, he’s always giving me flowers.”
Paula and Andy Jamieson

“I love that she’s always got a big smile on her beak. She’s a happy chappy.”
Tony and Susan Bailey

“We met on a night out on Red Nose Day 24 years ago. I knew that night I’d marry her and three months later I did.”
Brenda and Clive Webster

“Advice for a long relationship? Sheer persistence. You’ll have your problems – we both have – but you’ve just got to get on with it.”
Verity and John Russell

The exhibition ran until 5th April 2014 at The Atkinson, Southport