Teeswater Year : Farm · Fleece · Fashion 

This fantastic new exhibition will be held in 2020 and will feature my photography, alongside the work of textile artist, Yvonne Le Mare, who creates wonderful vessels, garments and wall hangings featuring Teeswater locks. 

Yvonne's side of the exhibition will bring in some great publicity as she'll be using Teeswater locks to decorate a stunning centrepiece felted Wedding Dress. Yvonne is self-funding her items and will be taking commissions at the exhibition.

What's the exhibition about? 

The Teeswater is a longwool breed of sheep from Northern England, recognisable by its curly, lustrous 'locks', black and white face and distinctive fringe.

For the last two years I have been working with sheep breeders around Yorkshire documenting what the public doesn't see.  Capturing pictures whilst lying in the straw in the lambing shed, observing the breeders preparing the sheep for showing and meeting up with their friends at auctions.  The project focuses on the farmers, the breeders and the sheep themselves. 

How much access have you had?

I've been allowed almost complete access to farms, fields and homes during the last two years. From auctions to lambing sheds, fields and barns, I've been fully supported by the Teeswater Breeders' Association and its members throughout the project.  I've sat in the corners of barns and show rings, letting the cameras capture what happens using only available light. With the exception of the 'Tunstall Lola' images to promote the exhibition, all photographs have been taken using the available light, all has been natural, nothing has been set up or posed.  

Who was involved?

A number of farmers and breeders have been involved in the project.  Smallholders and farmers have been in touch and invited me into their homes. 

Why a Fundsurfer campaign?

I've secured an amazing venue for the exhibition: The Dales Countryside Museum at Hawes, North Yorkshire and I want to fill the space with high quality, fantastic images.  The exhibition will last several weeks throughout March and over the Easter holidays.

I'd love for families to see and appreciate them - families who, like my own, have only seen sheep grazing in fields, or being shown at agricultural shows. 

This Fundraiser project is designed to achieve this by raising the funds to make the photographic side of the exhibition come together.

What will the money be used for?

To pay for the high quality production of the prints themselves and their delivery.  These images will be professionally printed onto 3mm rigid pvc for museum display purposes and will be of a very high standard.

These unique, one-off exhibition Images will be available as rewards for funding too - they'll make great decorative items and can be wall-mounted just as they are!  If you choose one of these as a reward, you can select from images at the exhibition (subject to availability) and collect from me at the end of April, or I can bring them to a local (North Yorkshire) agricultural show.

If the target is exceeded what will the extra funds be used for?

Any excess (depending on the amount) will be used towards publicity costs, hanging costs and, if enough is achieved, towards an opening event.

And - who am I?

I'm a Yorkshire based documentary photographer, usually found with my camera covering rural events.  

I have won a number of awards for my images including winning Tennants Garden Rooms 'My Yorkshire' Photography competition in 2017.

My aim is to document events as they really are and to capture what happens 'behind the scenes'.  I absorb myself into my surroundings and my images are often gritty, rather than pretty.

My photographs of Pateley Bridge 1940s event have featured in the Daily Mail You Magazine and Living North and my farming images in Farmers' Mart magazine.  My images have also been published in the Daily Telegraph, The Times and the Yorkshire Post.

I live in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire with my husband, offspring and dog.  If I'm not photographing around the Dales I can often be found by an airfield or sat on hills waiting for planes to pass by...

Please do pledge your support!

You can also help by sharing this crowdfunder with friends and family - In fact with everyone!