The beauty of Northumberland in the frame
Winners wow in national park’s first photography competition. Tony Henderson reports
One man and his dogs proved a winner in a picture competition to mark the 70th anniversary of Northumberland National Park.
The Park Photography Award 2026 called for images showcasing the national park’s landscapes, heritage, wildlife and people.
The inaugural competition attracted 247 entries across People and Place categories.
The People and Place category winners were chosen by 70th anniversary campaign corporate partners Tarmac and Community Foundation North East, but the People’s Choice Award was entirely decided by public votes.
The People’s Choice winner was Claire Forsythe’s photograph That’ll, which makes her Northumberland National Park’s Photographer of the Year.
Her image features a farmer on a quad bike on a drystone wall-lined road in the heart of the Breamish Valley, with loyal sheepdogs in tow.
Claire, who lives in Northumberland and enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family and her two dogs, said: “I have always had a passion for photography and can’t think of a better way to showcase the beauty of Northumberland and the surrounding areas in the North East.”
In the People category, North East Community Foundation chose Luke Donockley’s photograph Simonside, which shows a figure standing on the Simonside ridge in silhouette in front of the striking backdrop of the Milky Way.
“We love the way this image captures the powerful effects of the dark skies in the national park,” says John Hollingsworth, the foundation’s chief philanthropy and development officer.
“Showing someone enjoying the night sky in this way helps to demonstrate one of the park’s most important strengths, which is something that precious few places in England can offer.”
Luke, an amateur photographer from Hexham, hiked up Simonside at night in December last year. He said: “I took the opportunity to get a photo of myself as a memory of a long, cold but very beautiful night under the stars.”
The Place category winner, chosen by Tarmac, is Golden Passage by Nick Smith, whose image depicts Hadrian’s Wall winding over the Whin Sill at Walltown Country Park, bathed in golden light.
Richard Barradell, Tarmac strategic planning manager, said: “This is a beautifully composed landscape photograph with a dramatic sense of depth and atmosphere.
“This is a typical Northumberland landscape that perfectly encapsulates the rugged beginning of the uplands, with the stony whinstone ridge being synonymous with the Northumberland landscape.
“The warm sunset light sweeping across the terrain creates a strong emotional impact, and the natural framing by the rocky foreground adds a sense of immersion. The image feels expansive, almost cinematic. The photograph simultaneously gives you rugged beauty and the feeling of being at peace.”
Nick, a landscape photographer from the North East who started taking photos only a few years ago, said: “It sparked a curiosity that soon grew into a new way of seeing the world.”
Tony Gates, park chief executive, said: “We are pleased to welcome such an outstanding range of entries in our first photography award. The diversity and quality of the images submitted reflect the remarkable breadth of landscapes, wildlife, and heritage together with everyday life happening across our National Park.
“Together, they form a vivid and compelling portrait of the place that continues to inspire so many and serves as a fitting tribute to it and the enduring beauty and relevance of the national park in its 70th anniversary year.”
The Northumberland National Park Photography Award 2026 exhibition will open at The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre on March 27 and will run until June 21.