AN AMATEUR wildlife photographer who created a calendar to raise money in memory of a friend who died of cancer has become an overnight success.

Angela Norman of Green Street, Avebury has shot a series of wildlife pictures in memory of her friend Christopher Spratt, also from Avebury, who died of Chondrosarcoma bone cancer last autumn.

She is raising funds for The Bone Cancer Research Trust and has since raised over £1000 for the charity as requests snowballed.

Mrs Norman has spent the last 20 years enjoying wildlife but only recently starting photographing it after being lent a camera of her own.

She learnt how to use the camera and in less than a year had a full portfolio worth of scenic shots.

She even taught Mr Spratt’s wife and daughter how to capture wildlife through the lens and their work now features in the charity calendar.

She said: “I asked Chris’s wife Sarah and daughter Audrey, 13, if they would come on a shoot with me to contribute to the calendar and they found it interesting and got two great shots. These have been used for January and December in the calendar.

“Our friendship has been based on walking our dogs in this area because both I and Sarah love walking.

“It helps that I am quite patient and really love looking at these animals. When you love it, it becomes a sort of meditation watching these creatures move.

“I have got quite good at anticipating them and can tell when an owl is about to fly for example."

The keen dog walker now leaves her pet terriers at home when she goes on shoots in order to be able to capture wildlife in their natural habitat.

She decided to sell the calendars to raise awareness about the rare bone cancer condition suffered by Mr Spratt.

To buy a calendar from £5, contact Mrs Norman on angelanorman2@hotmail.com.