About Davina
How it all started
Davina grew up surrounded by passionate amateur photographers. Her grandfather, uncle and most profoundly her father instilled in her, a love of cameras and a need for the wild places of the world. She was raised to love the planet, and it‘s spaces. Sometimes this was in the African savannahs, occasionally Asian jungles, but more often than not, up a Swiss mountain. Her father, as a child refugee of the Second World War, was a firm believer that any child of his, must be able to survive outdoors with bare minimal. Often they would vanish up a mountain for days on end, with nothing other than a knife, a lighter and her father‘s huge duvet coat, which he would often zip them both into at night, when they curled up together under a fir tree. During these times they would live off the land. This taught young Davina that the wild places have all that we need, and must be protected as an absolute priority. Her father was also never far from his camera- usually a tiny Minolta in his pocket, but often his more substantial Nikon. Incidentally, her family has used the same photography shop for 3 generations now, and continue to support that family business today!
... and grew
The science of developing negatives always seemed like alchemy to Davina. The same magic that turned a few wild mushrooms into a gourmet fireside meal, turned memories into art. Watching the images appear on paper with the red light of the dark room, the smell of the fluid and the careful drying process, were not only magic, but also sanctuary. It was how Davina learned to express what was inside her, and indeed value what was there too. At 18 Davina left on a gap year, and was blessed to have been offered a job in an adventure travel company in Nepal ,working at a safari lodge. Her parents were likely hoping this would ‘get it out of her system‘. The opposite happened and it became clear that the wild would always be part of her soul. She later returned to England, where she started a family. In raising her daughters, she has prioritised a love of nature and the outdoors with them, and although school and then Covid have somewhat curtailed their adventures, they are catching up rapidly. Davina and her daughters are keen horsewomen, living on a farm in the Surrey Hills, from where they plan their next adventures.
in Africa
hippo shoot
Gallery
