When North Devon Photographer, Robin Mellor, first photographed one of the stainless steel benches on Barnstaple’s Esplanade he had never heard of Bill Douglas. After Robin worked some digital imaging magic on the photograph it was exhibited in the Barnstaple and North Devon Museum’s Annual Heritage Photographic Competition. It was there that Peter Jewell saw it. A lifelong friend of Bill Douglas and the person who had arranged for the memorial bench, Peter immediately got in touch with Robin.
Bill Douglas was a Scottish film maker who made Barnstaple his home. He was a lover of all things to do with the cinema and optical entertainment and, with his friend Peter, amassed a huge collection of items which now forms the heart of the collection in the Bill Douglas Centre at the University of Exeter.
Quite unknowingly Robin had created a visual effect with his photograph that Bill would have very much enjoyed and, fittingly, Peter Jewell arranged to have a copy added to the collection at the Bill Douglas Centre.
Now the photograph is to be exhibited again, along with more of Robin’s photographs. There will be two exhibitions of Robin Mellor’s work during May. In North Devon Robin’s photographs will be on display at Hidden Valley Park, near Ilfracombe, from May 1st until June 4th. At the same time, during May, there will be an exhibition of his work at St Michael’s and All Angels Church, Southwick, West Sussex.
