I am a photographer with an interest in social documentary, portraiture and visual sociology.
My aim is to represent people in a dignified and progressive way.
In 2022, in a creative partnership with Xuesheng Ma, we founded the multi-media photography show Un_asked.
I was the founder and production director of the London Street Photography Festival. In this role I championed young people, under-represented minorities and women. In 2017, LSPF was the first street photography festival in the world to achieve a majority of women in our management team, guest speaker list and roster of competition judges. I made the LSPF competition free to enter for under 21’s. This brought forward many exceptional talents, most originating from South Asia.
I was awarded a Master of Fine Arts Photography (Distinction) at The University for the Creative Arts in 2022
I was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Photography (1st) at Coventry University in 2020
My work has been featured in exhibitions, published in newspapers, in magazines and online.
Born in Lambeth, my family moved to North West Hampshire in the late 60’s as part of the “London overspill”. I married Cheryl, my childhood sweetheart. We are blessed with two daughters Aretha and Peta and now two grandsons Reggie and Lenny.
I began working life as a trainee electronic telecommunication engineer, although I quickly grew bored with factory alienation, transistors and microchips.
I changed career to become a firefighter. I served in Basingstoke on the front line for 23 years. I gained multiple fire service qualifications as a breathing apparatus instructor, a specialist rescue vehicle instructor, a first aid instructor, a driving instructor, a fire safety officer and community educator who visited schools teaching young people about the dangers of fire and how to escape from a burning building. I was a Fire Brigade Union official and organised members, worked towards equality, represented grievances, attended education schools, conferences and took part in negotiation meetings with senior management. Sadly, I was dismissed from the fire brigade following a minor health problem.
I changed career to become an event manager. During the late 1990’s I was the producer of the legendary pre digital multi-media collective Raya. We held down a three-year residency at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. We produced multi media events across the world for the British Council and various institutions and organisations. I have managed and directed large productions for diverse organisations, companies and festivals. Including Glastonbury, Love Music Hate Racism, the East End Film Festival and the United Nations (ITU) in Geneva where I was responsible for a million Euro production budget.
I was a part time lecturer at Salisbury Art College. I was a lead tutor for BBC Blast. I have delivered groundbreaking creative courses to disadvantaged youth for the Princes Trust, Hackney Council, Tower Hamlets, The National Portrait Gallery and others.
In 2010 I changed career to work as a tour and production manager in the music industry. I have travelled to all corners of the world delivering shows and tours. My “A” list clients have included Wu-Tang Clan, Pusha T, Duke Dumont, Maya Jane Coles, TY, Lethal Bizzle, MOBO, LOTM, Desiigner and many others.
For a time I was based in Beverly Hills, California, working for Wu Music Group, 360 Management, G.O.O.D Music and Rocnation.
I had climbed to the top of my profession and it was at this moment that I decided to make space for my love of photography. Today I consider myself to be a photographer, although I occasionally produce tours and events if an old friend asks and I have empty pages in the diary.
Additionally, I supply DJ services to West Ham United, this is the finest Saturday job in the world, COYI.