Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

I was invited to photo-document a Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at Gigi Gao’s Favourite Authentic Chinese Restaurant in Swansea Marina. The event was organised for senior citizens by the Chinese in Wales Association (CIWA) in Swansea who had been self-isolating during Covid-19 and unable to socialise with friends. CIWA organise programmes to improve ethnic Chinese residents’ wellbeing especially the most vulnerable people. The performance was was provided by a group of dedicated  volunteers from the community and the delicious vegetarian mealRead more

Garage Doors

The diversity in design and manufacture of garage doors astounds me. The design, construction and materials employed is extensive. Some garage doors are cherished and well maintained, others are neglected and forlorn. There are those that have been constructed from dubious DIY designs with inappropriate materials; have seen better days and outlived their original purpose and are now sad and dilapidated.  My objective with this body of work is to provide a representation of this miscellany of garage doors inRead more

What Makes a Home?

  I was invited by the Volcano Theatre Company to photo-document a fascinating project involving Coastal Housing (Swansea) tenants who were teamed-up with artists to interpret What Makes a Home? for the participants. The venue was a vast corner plot, glazed-fronted store on the corner of College Street and High Street in Swansea (figs#1 & 2). The brief for the artists was to interpret their respective participant’s idea of What Makes a Home for them, into the physical area allotted toRead more

Mayor Darkin

David Darkin took his role as Llanelli Mayor very seriously. I initially met David Darkin in August 2018 at the BBC interview of Stephen, who was one of the Men’s Sheds Cymru subjects for my ‘Sofa to Shed’ project. He had run over from his architect’s office in the middle of town to support Stephen and represent Llanelli town. I was immediately impressed with David’s commitment to his role as town Mayor and his energy to sprint to the bowlsRead more

Burry Port Beards

It is impossible to ignore the increasing popularity of beards. This phenomenon has the potential of spanning the life-time of men and they can be well-tended and cared for or left to run riot on the face. This photographic exposition captures 20 men that I have observed in Burry Port town and harbour. The men include residents, visitors and even a transient cyclist. Mae’n amhosibl anwybyddu poblogrwydd cynyddol barfau. Mae gan y ffenomen hon y potensial i rychwantu oes dynRead more
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Gordon

Gordon is an octogenarian gentleman who has lived and worked in Burry Port all his life. He was born in a two-bedroomed terrace house, which he shared with his parents and grandparents. In 1939, aged five, he moved with his parents, into a three-bedroomed council house on the same street and attended the Copperworks School in Morlan Terrace in an adjacent street. Gordon impressed me as a very smart and presentable man with a very well tended garden and tidyRead more

Folk Music at The New Neptune

To continue my exploration of the theatre and entertainment world I obtained permission to photo-document a performance of folk music at the The New Neptune in Burry Port. It was a pleasure to spend an evening in the company of passionate men and women who delighted in entertaining us with an interesting and eclectic mix of music.Read more

Hamletmachine

I have managed to obtain a position as an unpaid Stills Photographer on a movie to be shot in London in January 2020.  The subject is one that is of great personal interest to me; the men and woman who live on our streets with their companion dogs and the benefits that are gained from this relationship. To equip me with some rudimentary skills to fulfil the role of Stills Photographer I am in contact with several organisations to gainRead more
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Swansea High Street

It’s been on my mind for a few years to create an Flâneur on Swansea’s High street. I wanted to record the amazing architecture that is only just hanging-on and to photo-document the rapid change to the shop fronts as the sad, neglected heritage buildings are torn down to build something new and transient. (fig.#1) My friend Sarah-Jane was holding her MA exhibition at 211 High Street, so it seemed appropriate to combine a visit to her show with myRead more

Molly Parkin

  In August 2015 I watched the BBC Newsnight and the Kirsty Wark interview of Molly Parkin, I was immediately captivated and intrigued by this enigmatic woman who spoke of Andy Warhol in such a warm and easy manner. Molly Parkin was being interviewed about the Pop-art Retrospective at the TATE Modern. During the interview Parkin described Warhol as a “strange and wonderful creature” and said when she arrived at a party that Warhol would “rush up” to her andRead more