Whats the big idea..
Getting Started
When Will moved to Sydney in 2006, he was captivated by the abundance of illegal graffiti. Growing up in a small village in rural West Berkshire, he had developed an early love for hip-hop and urban culture. His teenage style was unmistakable: oversized baggy jeans, a Walkman in hand, and the faint aroma of Golden Virginia tobacco—all balanced with a paradoxically polite and slightly posh accent.
For Will, trips on the train to London offered rare glimpses of graffiti—one of the core elements of hip-hop. As an aspiring DJ, these excursions were filled with hours spent digging through record stores, hunting for the most obscure and underground hip-hop tracks he could find. But what he loved most was the journey itself. With an hour to observe through the window, he took in every tag, dub, throw-up, and piece that flashed by, each one embedding itself in his mind and feeding his fascination with street art.
The Element
Fast-forward to Sydney, and Will was in his element—a new city to explore, with seemingly less budget dedicated to cleaning up graffiti. The trainline sidings were painted in cold greys and dull browns, creating an ideal canvas for the vibrant pieces layered on top. The details and humour in some of the artwork were incredible. Though the speed of the trains made it difficult to fully capture the messages or intricacies of each piece, there was always the return journey to catch another glimpse.
After about four months of daily commuting from southwest Sydney to the city, it struck Will that these remarkable pieces, which made his journey so much more bearable, could one day vanish. Just as they appeared suddenly, they could just as quickly be replaced by the same muted greys and browns, leaving nothing but a hint of their fleeting impact. With that realization, Will decided to carry a camera—a compact Sony DSC-W1—wherever he went. The small digital camera was perfect for the job; every time he spotted a new piece of graffiti, he’d pull out his camera and capture it, preserving the artwork forever.
The Photographers eye
As Will reviewed his photos, he realized that while the graffiti revealed remarkable skill and the risk taken by the artist, the images alone couldn’t capture the full experience he saw with his own eyes. For him, it wasn’t just the graffiti itself—it was how it blended into its surroundings, visible to everyone yet truly seen by few. Some recognised it as art; others dismissed it as “just criminal damage.” This in essence is where the photography bug came from.
From that moment on, Will never went anywhere without his camera. The Sony DSC-W1 was upgraded, and then that upgrade was upgraded, but the goal remained the same: to freeze time, put a frame around it, and invite people into the mind of the person behind the lens.
From Walls to Wings
“So how do you go from graffiti to insects?” you might ask. Well, let’s read on…
In 2023, it was time for Will to upgrade his trusty Canon 60D. He decided to switch brands and try something new. When he bought his Olympus OM-5, it came with a bonus lens. The guy in the shop assured him that the best choice, given that it was free, was the 60mm Macro lens. After some deliberation, he thought, “Sod it, let’s go for it.”
This opened up the macro photography rabbit hole and revealed a hidden world that, like graffiti, is visible to everyone but seen by few—often dismissed with a quick spray from the nearest can of Mortein (that’s bug spray, for those who don’t know)
In November 2024 Will's image "Loving Embrace" was short listed for the Close Up Photographer of the Year Award - Animal Category This Image was featured in their Top 100 images.
In November 2025 3 of Will's images were Shortlisted for Close up Photographer of the Year.
https://www.cupoty.com/-arachnids-shortlist-7
https://www.cupoty.com/invertebrate-portrait-shortlist-7
https://www.cupoty.com/-butterflies-dragonflies-shortlist-7
Family Life
In addition to his passion for photography, Will is married to his wonderful and supportive wife Tara.
He a proud father to two wonderful boys and a gorgeous Daughter, Charlie, Samuel and Matilda. Their endless curiosity and love for discovering the world inspire his work every day, reminding him of the beauty in seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.