THE work of a farrier in and around the Lambourn Downs is captured in a new exhibition coming to Didcot as part of Oxfordshire Artweeks.

Professional photographer Matthew Wright provides an intimate insight into the artisan craftmanship of Andy Eadie which normally takes place out of view of all but those that either own or work with horses.

Searching for a new photographic project and driven by curiosity, Matthew initially set out to spend just a day documenting the work of his self-employed friend Andy. That day was to become several over the cold days of winter 2013 as Matthew accompanied Andy to racing yards, livery yards and private stables.

Now the fruits of Matthew’s labour can be seen in an installation, The Farrier, in Cornerstone arts centre’s west side window from April 26 to June 1.

Matthew, 41, of Wantage, said: “Despite living in an area famous for and shaped heavily by horse racing, livery yards and hunting, I had never spent time around horses or the environment where they live and work.

“What I witnessed was an ancient, poetic and rhythmic craft; a beautiful, tactile and diverse environment with an architecture, smell, colour, texture and construction all of its own; horses for racing, playing polo, pulling traps, working, riding and quite simply, for business, companionship and enjoyment; a welcoming and friendly environment where a warming cup of tea and a piece of cake was frequently part of the working ritual.”

Despite having a 1st class degree in photography, Matthew had never practised it professionally until last year when he took the plunge to do it full time, giving up his old job with multinational utility company Centrica as head of billing and complex customer queries, responsible for the operational activities and accurate billing of British Gas Business customers.

“This as you can tell is far removed from what I studied,” he said. “Throughout my career, I continued to practise photography and keep up with all of its technical advances.”

Now, apart from his exhibition work, Matthew’s professional photography clients include garden designers, interior and architectural design professionals and a blue chip financial services business.

Matthew and his wife Claire moved to Wantage 12 years ago after living near Cheltenham and are kept busy working on their garden and allotment. Matthew is also a keen road and mountain biker as well as a Nottingham Forest fan.

Matthew said: “The exhibition not only documents the artisan craftsman at work, but captures the textures, colours and fabric of the stables, as well as hinting at the quietly intimate relationship Andy develops with the horses he works with.

“In a world where the horse and jockey are frequently photographed at events, my photographs present a view that is rarely seen or presented to the public — and I hope, create compelling and moving images that speak of the Downs and a key aspect of rural life.”