“I take photographs in my neighbourhood. I think that mysterious things happen in familiar places. We don’t always need to run to the other end of the world.” Saul Leiter

Launching a new business means goodbye to the security of a monthly salary and hello to a new way of living. Using your wits, your nous and your intuition to build a successful business. The most rewarding bit is that it's yours. Not your bosses.

This list began as we hibernated during the first Coronavirus lockdown in March 2020. It is a selection of my favourite photobooks, each taken down from the shelf that day. They may have been chosen because of my mood, my preferences, the news, or the weather.

“Less, but better... less design is not a constraint, but an advantage which allows us more space for our real life.” Dieter Rams.

Every now and again, in search of inspiration in a gallery, or to be energised by the buzz of an international city, I take a day off work and get the early train up to London.

Although I didn’t understand it as a child, the more I look back the more I can see why dad designed our home the way he did and the more I can see how it has influenced my approach to web design.

I cannot remember how I discovered Saul Leiter, but find him I did. I was immediately struck by his atmospheric, painterly images.