jimfastcar

Ah, a solution !
If I set the camera to take RAW + jpeg, the merged file is now visible in Photos.
I am not sure that when I import the picture into Affinity I am actually importing the RAW "component", but I am told by a Forum contributor on DPReview that the file is merged and that is what will happen.  Anyway, my workflow is now restored and here is an example of a picture I took today, though interestingly the EXIF data is lost (that will be another detective project for another day)
Please be gentle with my editing skills, they are in progress 
 

Sorry folks, I am having trouble making myself understood......
When I attempt to open a RAW file in Affinity Mac, the only files visible in Photos are the already edited ones (jpeg), the unedited (RAW) ones are not, yet they are definitely in the Photos App on the Mac ....

Thanks for your response.
I realize that File>Open will take me to the pictures for upload into Affinity desktop for processing.
As you can see from the attached screenshot, the available images are .jpeg or .heic (which are pictures taken with my iPhone).
The RAW images taken with my Sony camera are not visible, I believe the file extension is .arw   I do not know if this is because of a setting in Affinity or some other issue, but when I go to open a file in Affinity iPad the RAW files are there.
I have tried all the different potential places in the screenshot below and I cannot find them.  They are in Photos per my first post.

I purchased a new MacBook Pro a few days ago, and am learning how to use Affinity on the Mac vs Affinity on iPad.
When I open Affinity on iPad, there is a + sign top right corner which then gives me the options for bringing the file into the program.  In my case, this is the Photos App and as you can see from attached, the RAW files are listed.
I uploaded all my Photos from iCloud to the new Mac, and they are all there - RAW and Processed (now jpeg)
When I open Affinity > File > Open, the RAW files are not visible in any of the dialogue boxes that I have been able to discover.  Grateful if someone would tell me what I am doing wrong !
Thanks in advance

Thanks, I believe the question i us resolved.  Much appreciated 1

Yes, that did work, thanks 

Ah, thanks 

Thanks for all the replies gentlemen, much appreciated 
I checked back, did not realize i would not be alerted via email when someone posted response, thus my tardy reply - Ah !, i see the magic button below !!

Thanks