AN AMATEUR photographer has raised almost £2,000 for charity by selling a calendar of his photographs.

Phil Lewis, of Penarth, has been a photographer for four years and began taking photos in and around Penarth two years ago. He decided to put together a calendar of his work together to help raise money for the Alzheimer's Society, as his father died from the disease in 2011.

The 47-year-old was encouraged to put together the calendar after posting some of his pictures in a local Facebook group.

He said: "I was surprised by the positive response and all the encouraging comments my first set of photos received”, said Phil, “When I posted another set of photos people started suggesting putting them together in a book or a calendar."

Mr Lewis said the idea stuck and he asked the group to vote for their favourite photos which would be included in the calendar, before working with local graphic designer Ceri Legg who designed the layout and Beacon Printers, who printed the calendars.

Around 250 calendars were printed altogether which were on sale in shops throughout the town, but have now fully sold out.

“I was really worried at first as the number 150 was suggested to me by the printers, and as soon as I picked them up I start feeling anxious about how exactly I was going to sell 150 calendars," said Mr Lewis.

"I thought that 50 would have been a more realistic number. I was completely taken aback by the huge response.

"I had people contacting me from all over the world – Australia, Spain, Texas, asking if I would post calendars to them. This is on top of the response from local people.

"I spent most of my evenings in that first week doing deliveries all over Penarth," Mr Lewis added.

Through the sales, Mr Lewis has raised more than £1,900 for the Alzheimer's Society.

He said: "It seemed like the right thing to do really, as Penarth is a very community-oriented town so doing a calendar for charity fits with the outlook of the people of Penarth."

Now, Mr Lewis is looking at printing more calendars this year to help raise further funds for the charity.

"If the idea of this calendar had never been suggested then my photos would have ended up just sitting on my computer," he said.

"I’m just glad that this hobby that I really like has ended up being put to good use by raising this money for charity.”

To get in touch with Mr Lewis about purchasing a calendar, email philip.lewis100@live.com