The Studio
A world apart - in the best possible sense.
The Setting
A craftsman's workshop. A place where art is made.
The studio occupies the East Pavilion of Blackburn House - a handsome historical estate in West Lothian, set within the grounds of Blackburn House Equestrian Centre. It is the kind of place that feels immediately removed from ordinary life: open countryside, horses, dogs, goats, and an unhurried quality of air that very few studios can claim.
The studio itself is a working craftsman's space - tools within reach, work in progress, the particular energy of somewhere things are genuinely made rather than simply staged. People are usually surprised by it, and then immediately at ease. Around the walls you will find examples of our finished work: wall art, collections, portfolio boxes - displayed as they would be in your own home, so you can see exactly what you might be choosing before you choose anything.
The studio has full disabled access. You may park in the car park to the left of the studio, or in the visitor spaces in front of Blackburn House. On the approach road, please do drive carefully - you are on the grounds of a working equestrian centre, and you may well meet horses coming the other way. They have right of way. There are also dogs (all friendly, all convinced they are in charge) and goats. The goats look adorable. Do not be deceived. They are the Spawn of Satan, and they will absolutely steal your lunch if given the opportunity. You have been warned. We tolerate them.
Finding us
Convenient for Edinburgh, Glasgow, and everywhere between.
Despite feeling pleasantly rural, the studio is straightforward to reach. We are approximately five to ten minutes from the M8 (junctions 3, 3A or 4 are all convenient), which puts us within easy reach of both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Clients travel to us from across the UK - and occasionally from further afield.
Address
Spence Photography
Blackburn House - East Pavilion
Redhouse Road
Seafield
West Lothian EH47 7AQ
What3Words ///perkily.bystander.ranges
Directions
How to find us.
From Whitburn / Blackburn / Bathgate / M8 J4
Drive through Blackburn towards Livingston and take the first turn on the right as you enter the 30mph zone for Seafield. Follow the road down to the studio - it is the first building at the bottom of the road, on your left as you arrive.
From Livingston / Seafield / M8 J3 & J3A
Drive all the way through Seafield and take the last turn on the left just before the 40mph zone as you leave Seafield. The first road is signed for the sewage works - take the second road, after the last house on the left. You will see the sign for Blackburn House Equestrian Centre. The studio is the first building at the bottom of the road, on your left as you arrive.
Please drive carefully on the approach road - we're fine with you being late, but rushing and having an accident involving a horse would not be a good start to your afternoon. You may also encounter dogs (friendly) and goats (charming in appearance, diabolical in temperament). The goats are the Spawn of Satan. We say this with complete acceptance and zero exaggeration. We tolerate them.
Practicalities
Everything else you need to know before you arrive.
Parking - The car park is to the left of the studio, or you can use the visitor spaces next to the main entrance to Blackburn House. Please do not park on the road.
Disabled access - The studio features full disabled access in the client areas.
Session length - Around four hours - we do not rush.
Pre-shoot meeting - By phone, Zoom, or in person - whatever suits you.
LGBTQ+ welcome - Every person, every identity, every body - warmly received.
Your session can be a transformational experience.
The best way to know whether this is right for you is to have a conversation. No obligation, no sales pitch — just a chat. We are easy to talk to. We have been told this more than once, so it is probably true.