Photographing the River Cottage Festival in Axminster, Devon

Famous TV chef and presenter Prue Leith sits in an armchair on stage with fellow TV chef Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall. Prue is gesturing while talking to the audience as Hugh looks on.
TV personalities and chefs Prue Leith and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall sit in armchairs on stage in front of a large audience in a white marquee at River Cottage Festival in Devon.
 
Young woman with long brown hair holding a white guitar. She is singing into microphone on stage at the River Cottage Festival.

The Brief

I was contacted by River Cottage in 2018 and asked if I could document their famous River Cottage Festival on 25th August. River Cottage is well known throughout the UK for its food and cooking TV series on Channel 4, with resident TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall leading the charge.

 

About the River Cottage Festival

People from all over the UK travel to Axminster to eat at River Cottage and attend their in-house cooking courses, and the festival is no different. Drawing in thousands of people across the course of the weekend, the River Cottage Festival offers cooking demonstrations, live music and interviews with key media personalities. Guests speakers at this event included Prue Leith, best known as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, Caroline Lucas, a British politician who has twice led the Green Party and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall himself.

 
TV chef and presenter, Prue Leith sitting in an armchair and smiling while talking to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on stage at the River Cottage Festival in Devon.

Delivery

I spent the day documenting the various activities, talks, musicians and speakers, covering the festival site and capturing the highlights and atmosphere for River Cottage to use in their promotional and marketing materials.

You can see a selection of the photos below.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall sits in an armchair on stage talking to the audience at River Cottage Festival in Axminster, Devon. In the background, you can see a bicycle and chairs on stage as decorations.
Chef uses tongues to cook racks of ribs and meat on a large barbeque at River Cottage Festival. The meat is bring grilled and is smoking.
Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, sitting in an armchair talking to the audience and gesturing while speaking. She is smiling in a cheerful way while being interviewed on stage at the River Cottage Festival.
Team GB athlete being interviewed on stage at River Cottage Festival. He is wearing a red checkered shirt and is sitting in an armchair while being interviewed on stage.
Professional portrait photography of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall at River Cottage in Axminster, Devon. He is wearing a blue shirt and is smiling while standing against a backdrop of countryside.
Bar tenders making drinks inside a small horsebox bar at the River Cottage Festival in Devon.
Black and white photography of professional photographer James Aitken standing with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall at River Cottage Festival in Axminster, Devon.

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