STROUD photographer, Mark Anthony Sweeting, has captured the unique beauty of the Cotswolds countryside during the Covid-19 lockdown in a special 2021 calendar – using just his camera phone.

Mark, a youth support worker at a special needs school, from Burleigh in Stroud, started his collection of snaps whilst out on his bike and on his walks around the county, as part of his daily quota of allowable exercise.

And he says the photography helped keep him grounded during lockdown and also provided a stress release.

His hope is that his images might inspire others too.

“Being a key worker throughout lockdown was really stressful," he said.

"I took to my bike and started taking photographs of things and places that made me happy and grateful - all from my mobile phone.

“Mother Nature provides us with such beauty especially here in the Cotswolds. I’m lucky enough to call this stunning area ‘home’ for which I’m grateful each and every day," said Mark.

Rather than leave the pictures on his camera-roll, like many of us do, Mark has taken his collection of lockdown photographs and turned them into a limited edition calendar and 24 keep-me cards in the hope that others can reflect and enjoy the positives and beauty of the Cotswolds, captured during Covid-19.

His 2021 calendar launched earlier this month and the orders are already flying in locally and from across the globe – with one being shipped to the United States.

"I’ve fallen in love with the Cotswolds all over again,” said Mark.

Mark's calendars are stocked at Made In Stroud or available via cotswoldscards.co.uk