THE widow of a Salisbury photographer has compiled a book of images he took of Salisbury and the surrounding area in a moving tribute to his life and work.

Professional photographer Steve Day was 54 when lost his 18-month battle with cancer in April 2003.

Specialising in landscape and travel photography, Mr Day took thousands of images of the area before he died, which his wife Sue Walker gradually whittled down to 160 images for the book, A Portrait of Salisbury.

She said: “It is a book I thought I would like to do because I love Salisbury – I think it is a wonderful city. I had a great deal of fun choosing the pictures out of quite a few thousands.

“For me it is also a lovely memory that I can treasure, as well as a tribute to Steve. I think he would have been really pleased. It really has done justice to his photographs.”

The book, published by Halsgrove, also contains photos by family friend Richard Tambling, who took photos of things that had changed since Mr Day died, such as the new font at the cathedral.

Mr Day, who formerly lived in London, developed an interest in photography from a young age but didn’t take it up professionally until the early 90s, after the couple moved to Salisbury in 1988.

“He quickly became really successful and he was so much happier once he became a photographer rather than a businessman,” said Ms Walker. “He blossomed and he really did enjoy it.

“I can remember him saying ‘I will never retire because why would you retire from a job you love so much?’ It is a shame that it ended so soon.”

A Portrait of Salisbury costs £14.99 and is available from Cross Keys Bookshop, Waterstone’s, WH Smiths and at the cathedral.