DERRY BRABBS
Derry Brabbs is one of England’s leading photographers in the fields of heritage, landscape and pilgrimage. With a career spanning more than four decades, he has illustrated 35 books, including collaborations with renowned authors such as James Herriot and Alfred Wainwright. His signature blend of visual storytelling and cultural insight has shaped public understanding of Britain’s rural and architectural heritage. Derry is also a celebrated author in his own right, producing books that explore the historic landscapes of Europe, from the Pennine Way to the great pilgrimage routes of Santiago
Derry began his career in the late 1970s while working in advertising, when a commission to photograph for James Herriot’s Yorkshire launched his journey into publishing. The book was a global success and led to a long-standing partnership with Alfred Wainwright. Their first collaboration, Fellwalking with Wainwright, took Derry across 18 rugged Lake District walks, despite his fear of heights. This was followed by the long-anticipated Pennine Way project, which marked a pivotal moment in his career and established him as a key figure in landscape photography.
His growing awareness of Britain’s fragile rural and architectural heritage led to significant contributions such as Rural England and England’s Heritage, the latter produced with English Heritage. These projects signalled a shift towards documenting not only landscapes but also the structures and communities that define them. Derry’s deeply considered work combines technical excellence with a passion for the subjects he photographs, revealing the story behind each view.
Derry’s later work has embraced the spiritual and cultural resonance of Europe’s pilgrimage routes. His landmark title, Pilgrimage, offered a sweeping visual journey through the sacred landscapes, churches and cathedrals of Western Europe, from the Camino de Santiago to lesser-known paths through Britain. The success of Pilgrimage led to expanded explorations of sacred sites across Scandinavia and Eastern Europe in Great Pilgrimage Sites of Europe.
In 2024, he published Great Churches of London, a richly illustrated volume capturing the architectural and spiritual significance of the capital’s most important religious buildings. His unique ability to convey a sense of place through both image and narrative has made his books popular across Europe, where many have been translated into multiple languages. Today, Derry continues to combine writing with photography, producing works that celebrate continuity, history, and quiet human devotion expressed in stone and space.
Derry has authored and photographed numerous acclaimed books, including Pilgrimage, The Roads to Santiago, Hadrian’s Wall and The River Thames. Earlier collaborative works include James Herriot’s Yorkshire, Fellwalking with Wainwright and Rural England. His publishing partners have included Michael Joseph, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, and Frances Lincoln. Derry has created a visual archive of landscapes and landmarks through each of these volumes, from the deeply personal to the universally historic. His books resonate with readers who share his appreciation for landscape, architecture and cultural heritage.
Notable photography-only titles include:
James Herriot’s Yorkshire (1979),
Wynford Vaughan Thomas’s Wales (1981),
Angela Rippon’s West Country (1983),
Fellwalking with Wainwright (1984),
Rural England (1988),
Dickie Bird’s Britain (2002),
Living the Past (2003),
Rambler’s Rewards (2010).
Books authored and photographed by Derry Brabbs include:
English Country Churches (1986),
Landmark (1998),
England’s Heritage (2001),
In the Footprints of Wainwright (2005),
Hadrian’s Wall (2008),
Pilgrimage (2017),
Great Pilgrimage Sites of Europe (2020),
Great Churches of London (2024).
