What a character Lez is! A gents hairdresser, 25 years in Kirkstall, his shop is quite the statement on Kirkstall Road. He is a friendly chap, with quite the banter, and this is proven with his loyal clientele.

His shop is a photographers dream, quirky and full of character. For a story, Lez is an anthology of tales, he has a history dating back quarter of a decade in this area, and has heard voices from a variety of folk, and faced many changes.

I’m looking forward to seeing our images as a collective, it’s already apparent what differences people pick up on, even when faced with the same subject.

With only business left to visit, the project is approaching it’s conclusion.

We visited Kirkstall Brewery on Thursday, which was a real delight to photograph. The guys working there are a lovely bunch and didn’t seem to mind us getting in the way whilst they went about their work. It’s quite a busy workplace with lots going on, brewing the beer, building new tanks, getting deliveries ready to travel the country, cleaning out the returned casks, making cups of tea. I have noticed, without any surprise, how important a good cuppa is in the UK workplace, and unless it’s my fixation with how a nice cup of tea can get me through a stressful shift, I always notice the brewing station, and in the brewery I don’t mean the tanks!

Photographing the brewery was quite exciting, there is so much to look at and take notice of, all the little parts that keep the big cog churning. The guys who work for the brewery love their job and talked with passion about their journey, even those who stumbled upon the trade, were happy with their employment. But with any independent business, such as this micro brewery, without that passion the product will fail and lose its charm, and that’s what keeps the interest alive.

Our next visits will be to Lez Robinz gents hairstylist and The Great Yorkshireman fish & chips shop.

Today we went to the Kirkstall Abbey Market, which is held the last weekend of the month, so this weekend had a very Christmas feel to it. We spoke to many of the independent stall holders, with wares ranging from sweets, cakes, honey and clothes, and many were happy to be photographed and to take part in the project. I’d like to go back again in the New Year and spend some money on the delicious looking food!!

We also looked at the previous photographs we took at Hollybush and Spa & Beauty First. I talked about editing down their photographs before the final 2 workshops, as we have to choose 6 images for the exhibition and with over 600 images to choose from already, that’s going to be quite a task!

Our next stop is Kirkstall Brewery, one which I am looking forward to visiting.

We felt very welcomed by Natalie & Sophie, the sisters who run the beauty salon, on our visit to photograph here. I’m not really clued up on beauty treatments, but the salon offers many, such as waxing, nails, eyebrows and facials. Spa & Beauty First on Kirkstall Road are renowned for their window displays, something which has been a feature since their first birthday a couple of years ago. This year they’ve opted for a traditional Christmas display.
I had one student for this visit, and I’d asked her to come up with some questions to ask, which she did very well on.

It’s quite a contrast to the muddy boots and outdoors at Hollybush, but that’s the delight of the project. Next stop, Kirkstall Abbey Market.

The project I’m leading at Abbey House, part of the Yorkshire a Exhibition, took us to Hollybush Conservation centre and their Christmas Craft Market today.
It was our first outing to photograph a place of work, and it certainly was a lovely place to start. There were a few nerves to begin with, it was a busy bustling place, but everyone eased into it. I think, without doubt, there will be some lovely photographs to take away from the day. I put my two students on the spot with asking questions, but I feel they did fine, and we got the voice of the subject, which George Walker failed to ask for.
Next workplace is Spa & Beauty First, a contrast to the earthiness of Hollybush, but one that will be equally enjoyable to photograph.

I was given the honour of saying a few words at the Love Arts Leeds closing party, here is my speech in full.

The Love Arts festival launched in 2011, and in a nutshell, focusses on wellbeing in the arts. This year is about Sharing Stories, and I’ve been asked to share mine, and my experience with Love Arts Leeds.
At the time of the first festival I was suffering from depression, and had also developed anxiety. I felt quite isolated and unsure of myself and my own capabilities as an artist. My desire was to find a positive community that would encourage me and so that I could feel part of something. I felt that volunteering would be a good place to start. I volunteered for the first festival over a variety of activities, I think it was about 15 in total. After hearing Tricia Thorpe talk at one of the events, I thought her story was very inspiring. I decided to volunteer afterwards with Time To Change Leeds.
From this initial interaction with the festival, I asked Linda Boyles, from Arts and Minds if it would be possible to facilitate a workshop as part of my final degree project. I ran a workshop with Arts and Minds members, which looked at wellbeing and in particular taking notice of your surroundings. Looking at the New Economics Foundation’s 5 ways to wellbeing.
The second festival I was invited to have my own exhibition from the work I had produced for my degree show with the Arts and Minds members, which was held at the White Cloth Gallery. I was also nominated for the visual arts award which I went on to win for my work on my wellbeing project. My speech last year was quite literally speechless, I was overwhelmed to the point of silence!
Between then and now I have worked with The Mount where we created a photographic collage with the elderly service users, and I have been invited back again this winter, I was recommended to them by Tom Bailey, also of Arts and Minds.
Inspired by the Highlights exhibition, which is one of the features of the Love Arts festival, I organised and put on an exhibition at the Hedley Verity last spring. It was open to everyone, encouraging inclusion and to raise awareness about the Time To Change campaign. I received over 40 pieces of work from a variety of artists, and it was a great pleasure to see them adorn the walls of this busy city pub.
This summer I have worked with Tricia and other volunteers from Time To Change Leeds to produce the Unheard Voices of Highroyds exhibition, exploring past and present at this formidable place. I was asked to create both the cover for the festival programme and the Love Music Leeds CD, which I have been very honoured to do so, it also saw me getting more creative outside photography with my book carving skills.
I will be taking on my first big commission with Abbey House museum starting this month. I’ve secured a job working with Emma Saynor, a fellow Love Arts volunteer from 2011, as facilitators and community learning tutors at Mencap. And I founded a photography group called Take Notice Leeds, which is a more inclusive and open group for people who may normally feel intimidated at other groups.
I don’t want to brag about all the things I’ve done, as there have been many equally amazing projects and stories from many of the participants in the festival. But the main point I want to make about all of this is, how from the first festival to now I have grown and changed as a person. I don’t think it would have been possible for me even to have written a proposal to a Leeds museum a couple of years ago, let alone be standing here talking to you about it, but being part of the Love Arts Festival, and what has come from, it has given me the confidence, the encouragement and above all proven that the arts really can improve your wellbeing and mental health. Oh, and I think the most important thing, it has given me some really incredible friendships.

I didn’t win the Visual Arts awards for which I was nominated again this year, I had stiff competition from the Place and Memory collective, who deservedly won. And my good friend and Pop-Up Booth collaborator, Charys Ellmer is one of the artists. But as part of the Time To Change team and the Unheard Voices of Highroyds exhibition, we did win the Peoples Choice award. I don’t get to spend as much time with the team since my new job, but I’ll always remain a volunteer in any capacity I can.