I just love discovering local talent and posting about it.

We all live in communities that are special to us or at least they should be special if you call them your home. Sometimes it takes going out and exploring your community to discover what makes it special or maybe getting involved in town events. If you look you'll find it!

Kingston NH, while not my home town is a town I like very much. I've written about Kingston and I also did a virtual tour of Kingston last fall that you can see by clicking on the take the tour tab.

 Kingston is a lovely small NH town rich in history and rich in people...after all it is not the towns themselves that make a community a special place, but the people that make a community special.

Last week I discovered a very talented local artist who calls Kingston her home. When I say talented I really mean it. Let me tell you about Kathy Radford, Kingston, New Hampshire's hidden local talent.

Kathy has lived in Kingston since 1970.  Prior to moving to Kingston, Kathy and her husband would vacation in NH and always stopped off in Kingston.

I asked Kathy what made Kingston so special to her and she told me and I quote that they" fell in love with the warm country charm of the town with the town plains dotted with all the historic homes and the wonderful old Church on the Plains, the Town Hall, the bandstand and the majestic old Sanborn Seminary. Plus Kingston's proximity between Boston and the White Mountains with the added bonus of the Seacoast area thrown in, made for the perfect spot to raise three children in a relaxed friendly community where everyone was your friend."  

Kathy shared with me so many nice things about Kingston and its history that I believe anyone thinking of making Kingston their home should hear Kathy's words.  Because they are so touching I really feel a second post needs to be written... stay tuned for an insider's peek into Why Kingston NH is so special.  Meanwhile enjoy  Kathy Radford's Art...she is one special lady!

Kathy has been taking photos since she was 8 years old. Her Grandmother bought her, her first camera a Brownie camera (I have no clue what that is) and Kathy has been a shutterbug ever since.

Kathy started selling her photographs about 2 1/2 years ago after a close friend who saw her photo album encouraged her to go public with her work. Boy am I glad she did!

Kathy took oil painting lessons for many years and she used to take pictures with the idea that she might do oil paintings from her photos.

After awhile she stopped painting but continued to take photographs for her personal enjoyment.  She has taken many photographs throughout New Hampshire and Kathy like many of us is using a digital camera...hers is a Konica Minolta. Just like me she a draw full of undeveloped rolls of film. Someday someone will develop them and find a true treasure.

You can see some of Kathy's work at the Kingston Days in August in the Art and Antique section or in July and August in Manchester Artists Association Art Gallery at 1528 Elm Street Manchester NH. 

All the photographs used in this post belong to Kathy Radford and are copyrighted.

Four of the photos I have included in this post were picked as Artist of the Month this past year at the Manchester Artists Association.

1. The white barn in the snow, taken on Rte. 111 in Kingston near the Exeter line.

2. Cardinal on Ice taken on a bush in Kathy's back yard this past winter during an ice storm. 3. Broken window of an old barn on Rte. 16 in Ossipee, the house and barn were vacant and up for sale and 4. Milkweed Pods blowing in the wind were taken at the same place, they were in the field out behind the barn.

I absolutely love the Milkweed pods!

Jay and I are a bunch of shutterbugs ourselves so I  can relate to Kathy's love of photography and admire the talent she has for seeing the beauty around us.

Kingston New Hampshire is one lucky town! 

 Check out Kathy's art on her website by clicking here>>> Kathy Radford  

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH  603-548-7728

Visit my other Active Rain Blog>>>Real Estate Training