While most humans are winding down at the end of the day red foxes are just waking up and emerging from their daytime retreats. These beautiful and resourceful creatures are often found scavenging from our leftovers, hunting small prey and using their charm to be frequently fed by human admirers. They thrive in our cities mostly unnoticed by their human neighbours, patrolling our neighbourhoods mainly under the cover of darkness but sometimes they can be seen during sunlight hours.

No other native British mammal divides opinion as much as the red fox. Many see them as vermin and a nuisance but in my opinion we should be proud to have them live alongside us. It’s an absolute privilege to able to watch and photograph these enchanting animals, just minutes away from my home.

Foxes are part of the Canidae (dog) family but also share many characteristics with cats. They have slender bodies, long sensitive whiskers and vertically oriented pupils that allow them to see in low light. They’re very agile and able to squeeze through small gaps, allowing them to navigate through the varied urban environment with ease. They even hunt in the same manner as cats by stalking and pouncing on their prey.

Urban foxes’ captivating qualities and adaptiveness to live in many different environments makes them a truly fascinating subject to photograph. I want to tell this story and actively seek out the common city scenes that show them going about their daily routines. Their iconic red fur, thick bushy tails and endless amount of intriguing behaviours set against man made build up environments packed full of colour, texture and variety creates endless photographic possibilities.

As well as being a way of connecting with nature in a built up world, my foxy subjects have also become companions and I have become very attached. I would like to share my love for these animals and encourage others to appreciate what so many of us city dwellers have literally on our doorstep. There are so many interesting wildlife stories unfolding everyday on our streets, in our gardens, down dark alleyways and in local parks.

As you can probably tell I have fallen head over heels in love with this species and the process of photographing them has taught me so much about their behaviour, family dynamics and the daily struggles they face living in our cities. The more time I spend witnessing these animals with their complex and sometimes surprising social interactions, the more curious I become. There is still so much to learn and, of course, photograph.