When Valerie Hill picked up her first camera, she had no idea what to expect from her photographs, but, she knew she enjoyed taking pictures. Born in a time when every one had a "point and shoot" camera, she began taking pictures at an early age. Several large boxes of photographs, thousands of negatives and four or five over- stuffed photo albums later, she has decided the majority of her pictures tell a story, although the storyline and it's interpretation may be left entirely to the viewer.

By 1999, she had become bored with her auto focus 35 mm camera and felt up to the challenge of a SLR with all the bells and whistles, but, her technology minded husband felt she should step into the future and go digital. After acquiring a basic Nikon Coolpix 800, she taught herself to use the camera, seeing things with a different perspective. She captures the beauty of her surroundings whether her subject is a vast field of dandelions or the shape of a cloud. Her recent move to a Nikon D100, a digital SLR hybrid, has increased her ability to produce extraordinary images. Her images are printed on Kodak Professional grade paper and mounted on foam core using a dry mount press to prevent lifting or bubbling of the image. Archival quality mats are then affixed, using linen hinges, which allow the mat to be changed to fit the customers decor or personal tastes.

In 2002, "The Friends Of Pollyanna Society of New Hampshire" chose Ms. Hill's image, "The Spirit Of Youth" for their invitation to the fictional character's anniversary celebration. In 2003, her image, "Bend In The River" was selected as the cover for the Littleton-St Johnsbury regional phone book and two of her photographs were chosen by the town of Stark, NH to be used as cover material for their annual town report. Her image "Woodland Beauties" was awarded third place at the Plymouth, NH Art Festival in the photography category. She received an Honorable Mention at the 2004 Jackson, NH Art Show for her body of work. People who visited the 2005 Fifth Annual Fall Festival of The Arts People's Art Show chose Valerie's image entitled "Frangipani" to receive Third Place honors in the photography division. Honorable Mentions were garnered at the 2006 Littleton Art Show and the Plymouth Art Show for her image entitled "Rising Mist". Many of Ms. Hill's photographs have been published in the Guide to the Western White Mountains as well as local newspapers and other publications.

Locally themed images may be viewed at The ARTS Gallery in Lisbon as well as The Art Works in Littleton, NH, The Old Mill Studio in Whitefield, White Mountains Artisan's Gallery in North Conway, and Artistic Roots in Campton. Her work may also be seen at Wren Ovation in Bethlehem, NH. Pieces with a Mexican flair currently hang in Alburitto's Restaurant in Littleton, NH. Over the years, her work has also hung in the McKee-Hurst Gallery of Hartford, Ct., The Spa at The Mountain View Grand in Whitefield and the Society For The Protection Of NH Forests Conservation Center in Concord, NH.

Valerie recently completed a very well received 3 month exhibit in the Community Art Space at the Littleton Regional Hospital which illustrated the unique beauty of both Australia and New Hampshire. The current schedule allows for another three month engagement of new work to hang during the first three months of 2008 in this same space.

Most of Ms. Hill's body of work represents the pristine beauty of New Hampshire and it's surrounding neighbors, but Valerie and her husband, Carl, love to travel. Over the years, Ms. Hill has acquired a substantial international body of work from such exotic locations as Curacao, Fanning Island, Belize, Isla Margarita, Barbados, Hawaii, Mexico, Guadeloupe, New Zealand and Australia.

Valerie's photographic interests are also expanding to include wedding and portrait photography. Wherever she goes, be assured, her camera is never far from her side.