Overall, "A Portrait of British Cheese" is an essential read for anyone wanting to dive deeper into the world of traditional British Cheese.

A Portrait of British Cheese celebrates the excellence of artisan and farmhouse cheese in the British Isles, expressing it as a product of the land, its animals, and its people, offering a snapshot of rural life, artisan traditions and delicious dishes. I loved that these cheeses were not only a wonderful, delicious food product but also an instrument to express heritage, tradition and history.Farming – as many farmers and farmhouse cheesemakers are finding out – is arguably the most important stage in relation to the health of the land, animals and the consumers.

The book shines a light on the industry’s rich heritage, community and, above all, its cheesemakers, looking at how, through a mixture of knowledge and intuition, science and artistry, they create their cheese.

Angus’s authenticity, his passion for sustainable food and his respect for the people behind the products shine through. We sat down to chat about the book and Our Isles, the platform he founded to celebrate the rural environment and the British Isles through food, nature, history and heritage. Factors like the health of the soil and the welfare and diet of the animals are things to consider in this case. Angus has captured it all so beautifully in his photos and words and Lilly’s illustrations are perfect as always. With beautiful photography, hearty cheese based recipes, and a new insight into each of these wonderful artisans, this will be treasured by anyone with a love of cheese, the countryside and traditional cooking.