A former solicitor with a passion for photography has embarked on a new career behind the lens after scooping top prizes for her work.

Amanda D’Arcy was recently named the Royal Horticultural Society Photographer of the Year 2004, after picking up a first prize and two commendations in individual categories of the competition.

She also took second place in the Science as Art category in the Daily Telegraph/Novartis “Visions of Science” photographic awards, for her solarisation of an image of a kohl rabi plant (below).

Now after winning high acclaim for her work – and £1,400 in prize money – Amanda, who is based in West Sussex, has decided to set up her own freelance business.

She said: “Winning the awards gave me courage to become freelance full-time.

“I had done some work part-time before, mainly by word of mouth, but I am now going for it big style and am in the process of picking an agency to work with.”