Noel managed the etching studio at Central, St Martins for 9 years but after winning first prize in an open competition at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in 1987 he committed exclusively to photography. He explored 19th. Century photographic processes, preparing his own light-sensitive chemistry from precious metals; platinum and palladium, hand coating fine art paper for his photographic compositions. He subsequently included colour photographs within these images and then eventually moved exclusively to colour; first of all, using colour film and then onto digital imaging.

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Noel’s work is represented through a global gallery network in 40 cities spanning 3 continents. Much of the subject matter is found close to Sudbury where Noel lives. He firmly believes in showing locally as well as internationally, having had 2 solo exhibitions in Gainsborough’s House. Noel’s work has also been exhibited in the V&A, The National Museum of Photography, Film and TV, The Royal Academy of Art, The Royal College of Art, The Contemporary Art Society, The National Portrait Gallery and The Serpentine Gallery. He has also been Artist in Residence at ITN, Rowe and Maw (City of London) and Shaftesbury Plc (Chinatown).