PRE-ORDERS will receive a signed copy of the book. Launching 22nd May 2026.
 
VAREST is a photography book documenting the Forest of Dean through woodland, water, and landscape photography. Created by myself, local photographer James Kelly-Smith, the book brings together images made over several years, reflecting the Forest as a working, lived-in landscape shaped by nature, history, and time. Free UK delivery.
 
The Forest of Dean is often imagined as ancient woodland, but it is also a place marked by mining, forestry, and long-standing human use. VAREST explores this balance through photography that focuses on atmosphere and observation rather than landmarks. Many of the images are taken in quieter locations, capturing mist, still water, changing light, and the subtle traces of industry within the woods.
 
Alongside the photography are short essays and reflective text pages. These provide context without explaining the images away, drawing on local culture, dialect, and personal experience of the Forest. The writing is intended to slow the pace of the book and encourage a more considered way of looking.
 
This is not a guidebook, but a visual record of a familiar place seen over time. VAREST is designed as a photography-led book, suitable for those who know the Forest of Dean well, as well as visitors with an interest in woodland landscapes, nature photography, and place-based work.
 
Book details
Photography book focused on the Forest of Dean
80 images of Woodland, landscape, and water photography
Includes short essays and reflective texts
A4 landscape format
100 pages
Softcover
Full colour printing
Free UK Delivery (Shipping available Worldwide. For US orders, please contact me due to uncertainty with import duties) 
 
Price
£32 (Free UK delivery)