Partying at the Ashmolean

The run up to the festive season is always a busy one for me, with lots of parties, social functions and last-minute photographic presents for grandparents to accommodate, so it was great to be able to combine work with a bit of catching up with friends last Friday.

I was photographing the Pearson Christmas party, held in the beautifully stylish surroundings of the Ashmolean museum in Oxford. Recently refurbished, extended and now boasting a brand new (if you know what I mean) Egyptian artefact gallery, the Ashmolean also opens its doors after hours for all sorts of glamourous weddings, parties and launches.

Sheltering from a cold winter's evening, the 350 or so guests enjoyed champagne and canapes with musical accompaniment from classical guitarists and guerilla opera singers posing as waiters.

I took my leave as the guests were enjoying dinner and dancing in the Randolph Gallery and by all accounts, the partying continued well into the night. Here are a few shots from the evening.