A woman who nearly died from anorexia says becoming a professional photographer has helped turn her fear of food into a love for it. Daisy May Nixon, 45, was told a few years ago that her organs were on the brink of failure due to her eating disorder.
Now she has discovered a passion for food through her art and recently finished second in a photography competition.
Daisy, from Lockington, East Yorkshire, started to develop an eating disorder in 2007. Her dieting plan turned into an "obsession" and her health began to go downhill.
Speaking to HullLive, she said: "I would receive lots of compliments when I first started to lose weight. I was never originally overweight but the dieting started becoming an obsession and a year or two later, I realised that I couldn't stop and it was the food that was controlling me. By the end of 2008, I had become extremely poorly and struggled immensely for a couple of years."
Struggling with body dysmorphia, Daisy went to therapy to help manage her issues with food. Eventually, after being warned that her organs were on the brink of failure, she got to a better place where she regained her physical health. But, mentally, things still had a little way to go.
"I was better in the sense that I wasn't in serious physical danger but I would eat the same meals every day and would not enjoy food", she said. "I would never eat anything else made by others and that fear was still there."
Daisy said her outlook began to change when she met her partner, Manie, in 2013. A great cook, he helped her build up the variety of foods she was eating.
A turning point during her recovery came in December 2016 when Manie gifted her a camera for Christmas. He also booked her on a photography course so she could learn how to use it properly.
"I found my photography teacher completely inspirational and she is still a friend today", Daisy said. "I was in awe at how the camera worked and all of the science behind photography that I never even considered before.
"I started to take pictures of my dogs at first but after a couple of weeks it got a little boring and repetitive. So then, I went to the fridge and took out a savoy cabbage of all things.
"I thought the colours and textures were incredible and after taking pictures of it, I had a sort of newfound respect for the vegetable. I realised that I didn't have to be scared of food and it was beautiful in a way I had never realised."
Daisy threw herself into food photography and set up her own website. She said she enjoys crafting intriguing art that helps viewers pause and appreciate the finer details of what is on their plates. Manie is more than happy to clean up her artistic messes, help her think of clever photo titles and occasionally model for her, she added.
She said: "My partner is so patient and a great support system for me. For the past three years I've entered the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competitions and have got better and better each year.
"This year I achieved second place in the 'apple a day' category and received a 'highly commended' in two other categories, with a total of eight of my photos shortlisted. This was absolutely huge for me because I have so little confidence in myself so it was a real boost.
"I would love to win someday and want to give other people hope that, even though having a mental illness feels like you will never be the same again, a creative outlet can completely change your mindset. It's funny because the very thing that terrified me most, now gives me the most joy."
