Fledgling photographer Val Ridpath could be on course for a new career – after a picture of a robin taken in her back garden was selected for a college’s corporate Christmas card. Val had submitted the image as part of the coursework for her NCFE Photography course at Bishop Auckland College. But tutors thought it was so good it was selected for the college’s official festive greeting. This week 1,000 copies of the professionally printed card have been distributed to employers, schools and other college partners across the North-East.

Val, 57, of Thistle Close, Spennymoor said, “I have been interested in photography for years and years but it was only after I joined the course at Bishop Auckland College last September that I really got into it and bought my first SLR camera. I took the photograph of the Robin this spring while getting images for an assignment entitled “Welcome to my garden.” I was absolutely delighted when I was told it has been chosen for the college’s Christmas card.”

Val, who wants to pursue her new found love of wildlife and nature photograph, plans to enrol on another, more advanced photography course at the college in the New Year, having now passed her Level 1. Principal Anne Isherwood said, “Val’s photograph is wonderful and as soon as I saw it I knew it would make a great college Christmas card – I am delighted we can promote students work in this way. Photography is a very popular course and we are running several more cohorts in the New Year as demand is so high.”