A FORMER South Hams Newspaper journalist who has spent 35 years writing and editing has completed his first book – of photos.

Mark Hughes, 56, who lived in Kingsbridge, has collaborated with fellow English poet John Gartland to produce Blanc et Noir: Masters of Noir 2, a look at the dark side of life set mainly in Bangkok, where he now resides.

‘It’s paradoxical that I have been paid to write and edit for 35 years all over the world, hearing and telling fascinating stories yet my first book features my photos,’ said the current foreign editor of the Bangkok Post.

‘As the title indicates, they are all in black and white because that ties in with the clear, often unforgiving poems that John writes. Bangkok’s expat community, which is huge, has created what has become known as a ‘noir’ scene among the many creative types here, from the worlds of words, photos, paintings, music, video and design.

‘It’s very dynamic, tends to centre around a particular English-style pub and involves all ages and both sexes. I couldn’t hope for a more vibrant community and subject matter.’

Although most of the photos are set in Thailand and in particular Bangkok, there is one called Clouds Kissing from Kingsbridge as a debt to the happy years Mark spent running a smallholding off Belle Cross Road in his spare time. His eldest daughter, Daisy, 18, has just left Kingsbridge Community College after completing her A Levels, where his youngest daughter, Molly, 13, still attends.

Poet John has been a university teacher in the Middle East and Asia and hails from Northeast England. He has produced several collaborative books before but this is his first employing photography.

The 122-page book is produced by Lizardville Productions and is available on Amazon.co.uk priced £2.84. A coffee-table edition is also in the pipeline. Limited edition high resolution copies of the photographs are also available by private negotiation by contacting Mark at: [email protected]