Audrey is first female ‘photographer of the year’

Dungiven photographer Audrey Kelly has become the first woman and the first from County Londonderry to win a prestigious photography award.
By Niall Deeney
Published 4th Apr 2014, 17:22 BST
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 30th March 2014 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. PPANI 2014 AwardsPress Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 30th March 2014 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. PPANI 2014 Awards
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 30th March 2014 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. PPANI 2014 Awards

Audrey recently scooped a series of gongs at the ‘Professional Photographers Association of Northern Ireland’ annual awards. In addition to the achievement of becoming the first woman since the organisation was established in the 1970s to pick up the award for ‘most outstanding image’, she is also the first person to win with a wedding photograph.

A delighted Audrey, whose business C2 Photography and Design is based in Dungiven, dedicated her win to her grandmother. She said: “I took a wee visit to Granny to show her my awards. I believe my passion for photography has been handed down from my grandmother - she was a photographer who didn’t get any recognition in her day. Granny was never seen without her camera and I think if there was such an award in her day she would have got it. I told her the cup was for her and when I was leaving she asked why was I taking it with me!”

Asked how she felt after gaining the award, Audrey said: “I’m still in disbelief. While I’m gradually coming to terms with what just happened to me, I am so delighted!”