For the majority, the severe winter weather earlier this year was an irritating inconvenience that prevented us from going about our daily business.

But for Tony, it was a challenge to get his lens out at all hours and take some of the most beautiful pictures of the area you'll probably ever see.

Airdrie and Coatbridge are unlikely to appear in any books recording Scotland's natural beauty but looking at some of his artwork makes you think again about your local environment.

But he's no one-trick Tony. Clerkson is also renowned for his personal and family portraits. And he has his own private collection of candid celebrity snaps into the bargain.

So how did this former pupil of St Margaret's get into photography in the first place? In his own words, “I got into it by accident, to some extent.”

“I had considered myself more of a writer at one point and had worked on a novel and a collection of short stories.

“However, I kept getting struck by the dreaded writer's block, and that was proving tougher and tougher to crack.

“During this frustrating period, I made a trip to see some friends who were living in Dakar, Senegal.

“Before I flew out there, I bought a point-and-shoot camera and a dictaphone, with the plan to record some African sights and sounds, and hopefully help stimulate the writing process.

“But the fiction writing muse never really returned and I became more and more interested in photography as a result.”

Self taught

Tony was completely self-taught as he didn't want to get bogged down in too many complicated details while he was learning his craft.

He added: “Rather than attending courses to learn about photography, I figured it was better to simply get out and take pictures, and develop my compositional skills and maybe something of a style, rather than get wrapped up in the technical side of photography.

“I really got to love taking pictures and I enjoyed the versatility. One day I'd be taking photos of architecture, the next I'd be in the woods in the fog looking for an atmospheric photo story to record.

“To that end, I can still be seen out and about in Airdrie and Coatbridge, looking for something interesting in a street scene, or traipsing through the woods in freshly laid snow, with the belief that a striking composition can be found in a decrepit shop front just as much as in a beautifully lit landscape.

"Airdrie and Coatbridge offer plenty of photography opportunities. Airdrie, being so high, provides a quite spectacular vista as the sun sets over Glasgow in the short winter days.

“A walk in the woods after a flurry of snow can take you from a post-industrial landscape into a place of tranquillity and striking beauty. Meanwhile, Coatbridge lochs provide some interesting wildlife photo opportunities."

Tony is presently working on expanding his portrait portfolio and looking to collaborate with make-up artists and models. The talented photographer also shoots family portraits, either outside in natural light or in the studio.

He explained: “All my prints are limited edition and unique. You can be safe in the knowledge that what you are buying won't be found on the walls of tens of thousands of other houses or offices.”

If you want to meet Tony Clerkson in person, he'll be at Candleriggs Craft Market in Merchant Square, Glasgow, every weekend until Christmas and he has also been approached to take part in an exhibition along with various other artists at the Phoenix Centre in Glasgow from November 27th.

Examples of his work can be viewed at Alba Framing on Deedes Street, Coatdyke.