The iconic scenes captured in the new colouring in book about Salcombe

Anyone who has lived in, or visited, Salcombe will know that it is a mosaic of iconic views, each heralding a happy memory. In fact, Salcombe is so very much the epitome of the phrase ‘pretty as a picture’, that now it is the subject of one local photographer’s new colouring in book.

Available at The Treehouse toyshop on Fore Street as well as Coves Quay art gallery on Thorning Street, the Just Imagine Salcombe Colouring Book by Imogen Yeoman features eight images derived from her own photographs of the area, each chosen for their highly recognisable role in Salcombe and the local community.

Having lived in Salcombe and the surrounding area for most of her life, Imogen’s photographs are adored for their painterly style and her ability to capture the South Hams in all its glory, from its coastline to its local produce.

A mum of three, Imogen chose the images with three criteria in mind - they had to be recognisable as Salcombe, they had to be interesting but not too complicated for children to colour in, and they had to be images that she herself liked.

She said: “Each image is from my portfolio of photos, and I went through hundreds in order to find the right ones. To start off with we had too many boats and not enough variation, and then there was a seagull I wanted to include but rejected because you can find seagulls anywhere and there aren’t enough colours in them so it’s not that interesting to colour in!”

After a lengthy deliberation process counselled by the owner of The Treehouse, eight images were decided upon: "Seven of them are landscape and one of them is portrait, but it fits and in the end it has turned out to be the one I’m most proud of. It’s the last picture in the book and it’s of Cliff House and the Yacht Club with Solos racing in front of it. It’s my favourite for the detail; if you’re a Salcombe visitor it’s very recognisable - it’s a scene you can take in from the beach or the water in the summer.”

So what eight images would a photographer, who knows Salcombe in all its aesthetic detail, choose to create a narrative worthy of such rainy day entertainment and happy memories?

“The first in the book is also on the cover,” says Imogen: “it is of four yawls which are racing and heading up towards South Pool. The second is of three fishing boats in a row: SE58, SE74 and SE67 it’s quite a recognisable scene so you will have to see if you can spot them to get the colours right!”

The third image in the book is none other than Cranch’s Sweetshop - best known for its pink and white striped awning, although Imogen has received some psychedelic multicoloured versions from young artists, which she is quite taken with. Fourth is the South Sands Ferry travelling to South Sands; the fifth is the crab and lobster fishing boat SE22, moored just off Whitestrand; next comes the church followed by the Lifeboat, and finally the aforementioned image of Cliff House.

Having already received some lovely feedback about the book from fans as far afield as Australia and Spain, Imogen says: “it’s just so lovely hearing from people recalling happy memories of time in Salcombe through the book. I have had children send me photos where they have added octopuses under the sea and put their own mark on the pictures, and then I also had a mummy who sent me the most perfectly coloured image saying: ‘I’m not letting my kids anywhere near it, this one’s for me!’ - which was wonderful!”

Just Imagine Salcombe Colouring Book by Imogen Yeoman is available for £5 at:

The Treehouse: 61B Fore St, Salcombe TQ8 8ET
Coves Quay Gallery: Thorning St, Salcombe TQ8 8DW http://www.covesquay.co.uk
Or by messaging Imogen Yeoman on her Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/imagine.imogen/