Travel around the globe with the new exhibition at The Market Gallery

A Tameside resident is showcasing his impressive photography of lighthouses from around the world at The Market Gallery in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Ken Morris is 77, retired and has lived in Ashton since 1975, as his roots are in Newtownards, County Down. Ken has previously showcased his photographs of his trip to Antarctica.

Yet, after retiring in 2004 from the early implementation of the Internet by the Department of Trade and the Foreign Office, he has been able to combine his key interests in travel and photography.

Ken’s interest in photography began in 1965, after he purchased his first 35mm camera, a second-hand Kodak Retina IIC. He started off by taking photos of steam trains in Ireland as they were being withdrawn.

Whereas Ken’s fascination with lighthouses began from a very young age, specifically the one at Donaghadee, in Northern Ireland, which features in the exhibition.

The other photographs on display represent a small selection from the hundreds of lighthouses he has visited or seen from a far on boats around the world over a period of 20 years.

Ken took these showcased photos with a combination of a Nikon DSLR and a Panasonic Compact camera.

Additionally, Ken is a Tameside Community Champion and was one of the judges on short-listing the photos used on the Tameside Through the Seasons 2024 Calendar.

Entries are open for the Tameside Through the Seasons 2025 calendar, any photos of Tameside are welcomed and can be entered by emailing community.champions@tameside.gov.uk

Ken also collaborated with the Council’s Green Spaces Team in developing the Edwardian Walk in Stamford Park during 2022.

The exhibition is on display until Friday 6 September. The Market Gallery supports local artists to showcase and often sell their work. Exhibitions change roughly every three months. The Gallery is located in stalls 62 and 63 opposite Ashton Farmhouse Deli.

Tameside Council Assistant Executive Member for Culture, Heritage, Participation and Sport, Cllr Sangita Patel said: “I’d like to thank Ken for showcasing his incredible photography in our community.

“It’s an inspiration to us all and if any residents of Tameside fancy a shot at photography I’d encourage you to get out and about in the borough and enter your photos into our Tameside Through the Seasons 2025 calendar competition via the email above.” 

If you are interested in exhibiting at The Market Gallery, please email events@tameside.gov.uk.