After recommendations, I have bought a copy of photoshop elements 6 but it is unfortunately on disc and I don't have a drive on my macbook air. How can i download it to my Air as the Adobe site doesn't support download of '6' now

How/where did you buy Elements 6? Adobe has not sold it since 2008.

I don't know of any download links for it.

If you're running Mavericks, I doubt it will even install or run.

Have you tried installing from disc using a Superdive?

A legal version of Elements 12 will cost no more than $100 (possibly less in stores).