02 May 2025
Forty-five-year-old Gavin Gost has always had artistic flair and studied art and photography at Oaklands College in 1995, but a moment in lockdown rekindled his desire for being behind the camera and his passion for taking pictures is developing.
“I’ve always been creative. From a young age, I have sketched, drawn and painted. I love colour, texture, shape and form,” he explained.
But it was reaching out to an old friend that set him off on a path to a new way of life.
Andy Smith, founder of Shoesmiths (now Timpsons) – The Maltings Shopping Centre’s key cutters – needed some help at his shop and asked Gavin if he would give it a go.
“I learned how to do engraving, cut keys, change watch batteries, print clothing, and shoe repair but it was the people I met that made me really love the place.”
He elaborated: “I enjoyed talking to the customers. There is such an eclectic mix of people walking in daily. I’ve met some amazing people while working at the shop.”
He said it gave him a deeper awareness of the human connection and made him want to get involved in local projects and go to places he hadn’t been to before.
Maltings art gallery, Vache Bleue, also provided inspiration:
“Walking past every day on my way to work really made me want to take amazing photographs, so I popped in and chatted with gallery owner Olesya who was so generous with her time.
“I showed her some of my pictures. She liked them. We talked about what I could do with them in order to move forward. She gave me lots of advice and said I should just keep snapping and get out there.”
And that’s exactly what he has done. In fact, he took photos at a celebrity event at the gallery last month and got some great shots of Jake Wood and Ray Winstone.
He has also photographed well-known DJ, Danny Oliver.
He visited a community group too: “Shelley Hayles, founder of LeeAnna’s Wish, invited me down to her Tuesday group at Cottonmill Community Centre for people from different generations to connect. That was a game changer for me. So many beautiful people… I chatted, got to know them and took tons of pictures. Now I go weekly not to take pics but just to sit and chat and spend time with them.
“Right on our doorstep here in St Albans there are some brilliant places to snap: market day, the Cathedral, Verulamium Park. The city is stunning, full of history and the aged architecture is breathtaking.”
He also enjoys what he calls the “unexpected consequences” of taking a picture: “A customer came into the shop to have his boots repaired and as we chatted, I really noticed something about him as we talked that I wanted to capture.
“I showed him some of my pictures and asked if I could take his portrait for my portfolio.
“His wife loved the photo and sent it off to a London modelling agency and he is now working as a model.
“He’s been inundated with requests. I’m so glad that I captured a moment that made an impact in that way.”
Gavin added: “Working in a shop has helped me to discover and be a part of what is a really strong community in St Albans.”
He is keen to get out and take more photos locally so do get in touch with him if you would like to be part of his journey.
Follow Gavin on Instagram @1secstop
