A COUPLE have teamed up with their local “postie” for the first exhibition at their new business venture.

Philip and Anna-Marie Magson took over the village bakery and café in Welburn last summer, meeting postman and photographer Andy Aveyard when he popped in with their mail.

After getting Andy to produce the photographs for the café website, they agreed he would be the first to show his work at the venue.

Andy, who lives in Strensall, captures striking images of the North Yorkshire landscape in muted colours or in black and white as well as further afield.

“I’m surrounded by this fantastic landscape as I go about my business and see potential shots on a daily basis, rain or shine,” he said.

“When I return with my camera there are endless possibilities created by the ever-changing light and cloud formations.

“I’m delighted to have a selection of my framed landscape photographs on display at the Leaf and Loaf.”

As well as his Yorkshire landscapes, Andy’s portfolio includes images of his travels in France and urban scenes.

Anna-Marie and Philip had previously run a pottery in York for 20 years and were looking for a place where they could live and work when they came across the business opportunity in Welburn. The café and bakery had plenty of outbuildings making it ideal to create a pottery where they could develop their creative talents and make their own ceramics.

“Although we had never run a bakery before, we were given plenty of guidance by the previous owners and the staff have been a godsend,” Anna-Marie said.

“It has certainly been a big change to what we have done before.”

Anna-Marie and Phil, who is an art teacher at Terrington Hall School, wanted to give the business a new look and name coming up with Leaf and Loaf café and bakery.

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“Alliteration is in fashion and we wanted a link with bread and were doodling with tea leaves and then tree leaves coming up with Leaf and Loaf,” said Anna-Marie.

“We have also redecorated the café to give it a more light and modern look and provide an opportunity to show artwork.”

Bread is baked on a daily basis with the café offering a take-out service, as well as the popular coffee and cake, but the couple also wanted to introduce their creative side and support budding artists.

“We both have a background in art and wanted to get back to our pottery by converting the outside buildings into a workshop and we will sell items in the café,” Anna-Marie said.

The couple are also keen to encourage and support other artists with plans to hold a series of exhibitions starting with the photographic work created by Andy.

“We were impressed by his work and the space in the café lends itself ideally to an exhibition,” said Anna-Marie.

“Our aim is also to look for emerging artists who can display their work alongside our own.”

Andy’s work can be seen from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Saturday.

For more information, go to aveyardphotography.co.uk/about.html or leafandloaf.co.uk