We were in the UK for the wedding of close friends’ daughter, held in a small parish church high on the Malvern Hills. The view stretched west to Wales, east to the edge of the Cotswolds—classic English countryside in all directions.
A Destination Worth the Detour
After the celebration, we explored our way south, bound eventually for Stonehenge. But I had one stop in mind: Shaftesbury. This postcard-worthy village in Dorset is home to Gold Hill—a cobbled street famous for its steep incline, thatched-roof cottages, and for starring in a beloved 1970s Hovis bread commercial that’s still making the rounds on YouTube.
Capturing a Living Postcard
We arrived in perfect light—warm afternoon sun slanting in from the southwest, brushing the rooftops in golden glow. The scene had all the charm and balance of a painting, but it needed scale—someone to walk into the frame. Just then, a young couple passed by, and I offered them £5 to stroll down and back. They obliged, and the moment fell into place like a storybook illustration.
Classic Britain at Its Best
This image is, to me, the essence of rural England. I always say if you looked up quaint in the dictionary, there’d be a photo of The Cotswolds. But Gold Hill is right up there—timeless, poetic, and quietly unforgettable.
Available in a Limited Edition of 25, with 2 Artist Proofs.
