Derbyshire-born artist and adopted Fen Man Dan Donovan has a flair for seeing beauty and drama in places many would overlook.

A move to the The Fens at the beginning of the 1990s prompted him to get behind the lens to capture the bold, stark landscapes that give the area its eerily beautiful character.

His background in design allows Donovan to bring a unique sense of perspective and style to what he does, ensuring that his work demands that all-important second glance.

“I have an interest in abstract qualities and juxtapositions, manufactured and organic lines that make contemporary gestures”, he said.

“Stark, distressed environments excite me and I always seek to enhance these qualities when I take a picture.”

After visiting The Algarve in Portugal, Donovan was again inspired. The dry, barren sun-soaked landscapes and cobalt blue skies offered a new window for Dan’s artistic interpretation, and he said it seemed like a natural step to place these two different geographical shoots in one context as one exhibition.

“In so many ways The Fens and The Algarve make similar demands; there’s an emptiness and sense of space with the occasional intrusion, be it man-made or natural.”

These pictures don’t tell stories but portray character and mood that evoke a response.

Ian Ray