Tweet

RHOSNEIGR IN FOCUS: STUART BENSON GALLERY

We noticed tonnes of awesome windsurfing photos coming from Rhosneigr and tracked down the man behind these epic images…Stuart Benson. After moving to Rhosneigr during lockdown, Stuart picked up a camera and began capturing the incredible energy of the water sports scene around Rhosneigr. Check out some of his amazing images below. Click on any photo to Enlarge and scroll through the incredible gallery!

---

Stuart has been windsurfing in Rhosneigr since the 1980s but also moved to kitesurfing when it first hit the scene and has since started e-foiling and wing foiling. His ambition for 2026 is to do all four regularly and to do at least one sport every day he is in Rhosneigr (except possibly when he is out cycling or wakeboarding). All of which is not bad for someone who is now aged 68! 

He and his partner Cathy were in Rhosneigr when lockdown started, and, he says, had to decide in a hurry whether to confirm Rhosneigr as their permanent home or go back to the north west of England where, at the time, they both had houses. They thought about it for a few milliseconds and have been primarily in Rhosneigr ever since.

Stuart has always dabbled a bit in photography. As lockdown gradually extended, he bought a new camera (Olympus OM1 / 150 – 400 lens) and a new guitar. There is little doubt at the moment that the camera won!

His first love in photography is wildlife, and he has travelled to Africa, India, South America and the Arctic in pursuit of photo opportunities. His second love is capturing water-sports at home…Rhosneigr!

“Living in Rhosneigr, close to the beach, I have the luxury of choosing the days and the times of day, when I want to take pictures. Unfortunately, it is often the case in the UK that the depressions that bring wind and waves also bring clouds and rain, and mostly I don’t tend to bother on those days since it is so difficult to capture anything worthwhile. I love backlit photos, and the evenings in Rhosneigr are perfect for that when there is sunshine.

Some of my best photo days have been this year, including my favourite photo, of Andy King looping with a trail of backlit spray while practising for the Rhosneigr wave classic.

My photographic ambition for next year (aside from more winter travel for wildlife) it to get some photos of local star Phil Horrocks, which do his talent some justice. Unfortunately, sun, wind waves, Phil and my camera focus button have not quite delivered on that front yet, but watch this space…”

About – Stuart Benson’s Photographs