An exhibition celebrating 20 years of unique images captured by photographer Clive Boursnell at New Covent Garden Market (NCGM) was attended by more than 300 people at the end of September.

Titled ‘Wholesale Market Life through the lens of Clive Boursnell’, the exhibition was held in the atrium of NCGM’s Food Exchange building, transformed into a bright and inviting gallery space to exhibit Clive’s work. A wide range of attendees from across the fresh produce and art words attended the retrospective over four days, featuring shots capturing life across the Fruit and Vegetable and Flower Markets.

Clive Boursnell talks with NCGM's Tommy Leighton at the launch of 'Wholesale Market Life through the lens of Clive Boursnell'

The exhibition featured 200 main photos, a large image with three smaller images beneath, based on a series of themes that captured the magic of the Market over the past two decades. With one exception: the exhibition started with a black & white image of the final day of trading at old Covent Garden, sitting atop three shots showing the first day of trading at New Covent Garden Market in November 1974. In addition, a separate wall featured hundreds of Clive's portraits, highlighting faces from the Market's past and present - some of whom are sadly no longer with us - captured at Nine Elms across all hours and seasons.

It was a packed launch event for Clive's exhibition: 'Wholesale Market Life through the lens of Clive Boursnell'

Clive first found himself taking shots of the old Covent Garden Market back in 1968 when, by chance, he was in the perfect spot to view the captivating lights and shades of the Market. Since that day, Clive’s love affair with Covent Garden Market (both old and new) has continued for fifty-seven years, with his photographs capturing the essence of this wholesale market’s life and times. When viewed at the exhibition, Clive’s images acted as a wonderful time machine, able to capture the ebbs and flows of people’s lives within a 35mm frame.

Tens of thousands of photographs and several published books later, Clive is still hooked. The veteran snapper’s own commitment to this Market’s cause was recently recognised with an Outstanding Achievement Award at the World Food Photography Awards.

Photographer Clive Boursnell captures images of his own exhibition, held in the Food Exchange's atrium at New Covent Garden Market

Asked if he can pinpoint his favourite aspect of the exhibition, Clive replies immediately and it's perhaps no surprise that the people of NCGM take centre stage. "It was a wonderful feeling to see so many people enjoying and really studying my work," says Clive, who hosted the exhibition across all four days, alongside the NCGM Communication team. "It made me feel really good and was a turnaround for me - usually the people in the Market have been watching me taking photos for years and years and never been able to see anything. Now they've seen my work - and perhaps seen themselves - in contemporary images that capture their daily working lives. I suspect it'll make future photography visits to the Market easier."

Clive Boursnell supervises the installation of his exhibition - 'Wholesale Market Life through the lens of Clive Boursnell'

Clive says one of the many things that have made an impression on him has been watching people looking at, and enjoying, his work. "They're really absorbed in the images and it's comforting to see. It's a real joy to be able to capture and showcase our ordinary daily lives on a wall now, in a contemporary setting, rather than having to wait 50 years when the images become nostalgic."

Clive Boursnell and NCGM's Tommy Leighton look at portrait images from 'Wholesale Market Life through the lens of Clive Boursnell'

Despite an almost 60-year relationship with the Market, the exhibition has convinced Clive he needs to visit Nine Elms even more. "It's made me realise there are parts of the Market that I haven't photographed, the Post Office being a good example. Now I've had an invitation to visit from the Postmaster! Overall, the exhibition has greatly encouraged me to not give up just yet and continue my visits for a little longer."

Frankie's Brownies (who started in NCGM's Mission Kitchen) made special edition brownies featuring Clive's iconic silhouette for the exhibition's launch