I’ve added the project ‘We Play in Time’ to the Project section. The work, which was exhibited in June 2019 at The Weavers Factory in Uppermill in June 2019, showcasing the Dobcross Silver Band, explores themes of tradition and their transition as they persist in an evolving environment. The exhibition attracted around 2000 visitors and it was wonderful to discuss the importance of traditions in the Saddleworth area with so many people. This is the link to the page We […]
PICTURES IN NEED OF A SOUNDTRACK The work that I recently did around Gloucester in New England is now being exhibited at The Creameries in Chorlton, Manchester. LIMITED EDITION PRINTS ARE FOR SALE ONLINE – CLICK HERE The photographs being exhibited were captured during September 2018, whilst I was staying near the old American fishing port of Gloucester in New England, a town famous for being the birthplace of Birdseye frozen foods and the film Perfect Storm. The area, with […]
The latest NQL radio on reform Radio is now online. It was inspired by a recent visit to Manchester By The Sea in New England. The show is about connections, loss and overcoming emotional distress. It’s the 3rd episode of monthly recordings for Reform. The next show will be live on Nov 13th, and will explore ideas of identity and roots. CLICK HERE to listen to the October show CLICK HERE for the NQL Podcast page, and further episodes.</spa
It’s strange, that which sits in our minds, quietly influencing us without us knowing. I was near the top of Hampden Street in Gloucester, where it’s topped neatly by Hovey. It runs steeply downhill, and affords a view of other toytown houses sprinkled on the hill opposite. In the evening, the sun sets behind the houses. Instinct had brought me there, not a guide book, and I was sure I’d found just the place to take my photograph. A black […]
TRASK STREET, GLOUCESTER, NEW ENGLAND – DUSK Where does the sense of the familiar lie within us? It certainly exists within our fingertips, nostrils, eyes and ears, traveling along our bloodstream to these extremities like salmon returning to spawn. It feels as if we are sometimes betrayed by this physical process when experiencing things for which we have the same vocabulary, but which are not the same. And we may also, when confronting a world that is subtle in its […]
I recently received an upsetting phone call from walk The Plank, to tell me that a section of their newly built HQ in Salford had been badly damaged by fire. I was invited down to take some photographs of the aftermath after one of the owners, John Wassell, decided that this moment in the history of WTP needed recording. As I’d photographed the process of the building’s construction it seemed appropriate for me to take the pictures. John also saw […]
I’ve begun a monthly Not Quite Light radio show with Reform Radio. The first one was broadcast at 5am on July 24th, with the next one due to go out in August. The hour long programme consists of a mixture of readings, interviews and music inspired by the half light of dawn. This is the ‘listen again’ link to hear the first epiosode: NQL on Reform Radio
On Monday 4th June I will be interviewing Dave Haslam about his newly published book, ‘Sonic Youth Slept On My Floor’ at the Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester. The book recounts Dave’s life in Manchester from the early 1980s through to the present day, and takes in tales of love, music and personal revelation. It’s a parable for those times, and brilliantly evokes the chaos and excitement of the Hacineda years, as well as taking us through the decades that […]
This film was made in 1927, directed by FW Murnau and is considered to be one of the great movies from the era of silent films. I watched it recently, and found it beautiful both visually and in it’s tale of love and redemption. This is the Wikipedia entry
Following on from my visit to Dartmoor last year, I’ve produced a new podcast based on the experience. The word magical us used easily, and often in terms of joyful, childlike responses. That magic was present on Dartmoor, but there was also an unsettling darkness that followed me. You can hear more of what I’ve got to say by listening here… I also interview Manchester based artist Claire Riley about working at dawn in the city, and our need to […]