HER photographs are seen in publications around the area, including the Echo, and Niki Cornish will open her first solo exhibition at the Beecroft gallery this month.

A carefully selected snapshot across several areas of her work, Click will see portraits of famous faces, including Ray Winstone and Rachael Riley, as well as landscapes, architectural work and a series of nudes – although she’s got a handy device to protect those with more easily offended constitutions.

“I’ve been working on this since January,” says Southchurch photographer Niki.“I thought I’d like to try something with more than one theme, so I’ve got four themes running through the show.”

One of the themes, Skin, sees Niki’s collection of nudes, but she took precautions with some of them, using technology to add an extra dimension, as well as give viewers a choice over whether they view all of them or not.

“One of my concepts is to use QR codes,” she explains. “They’re the only way you can access certain images – by scanning the code and downloading them to your phone or iPad.

“They have little exclamation marks next to them so if you don’t want to see it, you don’t have to download it.

“It makes it interactive and a little bit different. I go to an exhibition once a week or so, and you can just end up scanning the work.

“I’m trying to encourage people to take a bit of time and let them appreciate it.”

Niki has built up a reputation in the area, taking photographs for the Southend Film Festival and the Pier Festival, as well as regularly shooting for magazine Level 4, as well as the Echo.

Key to her work, is the idea of supporting her local community, boosting younger artists’ profiles and sharing her advice, as well as learning from others as she goes.

She has roped in the skills of South Essex College catering students for her private view – offering them precious experience of putting together and serving up canapes for a posh do.

She will be on hand as much as she can throughout the exhibition to speak about her work to viewers.

“I like to talk to other people about photography,” she explains. “Some of the students from the university are going to speak to me and that’s fantastic.

“I’m going to be learning as much as they are, it’s a real priviledge to show at the Beecroft.

“But I don’t take it lightly – I’m looking for criticism, as well as a ‘well done’.”

Niki hopes she will be able to work in some live music into the exhibition as well, with acoustic sets.

She is also looking forward to another exhibition due to take place in February at the Pier Cultural Centre, alongside musician and artist Darren Jones. Click runs at the Beecroft, Station Road, Westcliff, from Saturday until December 8.