SOUTH West Coast Path Photographer of the Year Exhibition is set to go on a tour around the UK, starting at London's Paddington Station.

Taking place on Platforms 8 & 9 from July 3 to 30, the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year Exhibition offers visitors the chance to view all the winning images.  

 

Overall winner of this year's competition is James Loveridge, from Lyme Regis for his image of The Cobb, and runner-up Ottery St Mary photographer Alex Walton for his image of Sidmouth seafront.

Organised by the South West Coast Path Association, the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year competition is now in its 12th year.

Headline sponsors for this year's competition is Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail.

Choosing an overall winner from the 1,500 entries was a challenging task for the judges, who awarded the coveted title to James Loveridge for his striking photograph entitled ‘An aerial view over Lyme Regis Cobb during Storm Ciaran which impressed the panel.

Jessica Lennan, judge and lecturer in Photography at the University of Plymouth said: “The winning photograph clearly shows the force of nature, with the Cobb being blanketed by the white, churning sea.

"In contrast, dark and heavy clouds pass by, allowing only little light to come through, and reminding us of looming danger ahead. The South West Coast Path is unique but also vulnerable, especially to extreme weather conditions, which we have particularly experienced in the past 12 months.

"This image is an excellent example of how powerful photography can be in letting us stop in our tracks and raising awareness for what is happening now.”

Helen Scholes, marketing manager at Great Western Railway said: “When our customers travel with GWR for their summer getaways, they are making a more sustainable choice. We are proud to not only sponsor this exhibition but also play a part in helping preserve the wonderful landscapes shown in these winning photographs.”

Julian Gray, director, South West Coast Path Association said: “This exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the South West Coast Path, one of the world’s great trails, at the iconic Paddington railway station – a key gateway to the South West.”

 Images from the winners and runners-up from all categories will be on display. There will also be a free-to-enter competition at the stand to win a framed print of a photograph of your choice from the selection on display.

After its stint at Paddington Station ends on 30 July, the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year Exhibition will head to Plymouth, where the South West Coast Path Association is based.