Portrait of Britain in Conjunction w/ @JCDecaux_UK
One year after its debut, the UK’s biggest photography exhibition returns, putting the country’s citizens centre stage once more on digital screens up and down the land. Portrait of Britain, in partnership with JCDecaux and Nikon gives photographers, amateur and professional alike, the chance to showcase their work across the country.
Jeremy Gilbert, Nikon UK Group Marketing Manager told us “We are delighted to be partnering with Portrait of Britain this year. The exhibition plays host to an array of stunning and versatile images, showcasing the diversity of our country. The exhibition highlights the notion of storytelling through photography and also helps to put the ordinary citizen at the forefront, championing the beauty in the every-day. Nikon celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year, so it’s an honour for us a leading imaging brand to support such a pivotal celebration of photography to help mark the occasion. The selection of winning images are a testament to the uniqueness of our country and we are thrilled to be able to support such an iconic exhibition.”
Visualised as an exhibition for the people, by the people, Portrait of Britain reached more than a third of the UK population last autumn. It returns this September with another 100 photographs showing in busy public spaces nationwide. The public will encounter the photographs as they go about their daily lives, displayed across JCDecaux’s digital channel of screens in places such as rail stations, shopping malls, high streets and at Heathrow.
Ben Maher, Sales and Partnership Director, JCDecaux said “This is the second year of Portrait of Britain, a unique exhibition that turns our national channel of portrait screens into a national gallery of portraits. These powerful photographs show a wonderfully diverse view of Britain, capturing people at work, at rest, in family groups and alone, in times of happiness and introspection – and will be seen by the public as they commute, shop and socialise in cities UK-wide. We are proud that Nikon has chosen to support Portrait of Britain and look forward to bringing this exciting project to our national digital channel in September.”
Following an open call by British Journal of Photography, nearly 8000 portraits were entered, from which the final 100 have been chosen.
The 100 portraits capture subjects taken across the length and breadth of the country, from Jon Tonks’ picture of an Inner Hebrides islander and her hawk, to Sarah Lee’s picture of a septuagenarian surfer, photographed as she leaves the waters of a Cornish beach. Among them, there are personalities, such as celebrated playwright, Tom Stoppard, the artists Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin, and from the music world, Skepta. There are also unsung heroes such as Rebecca Bunce, co-founder of a domestic violence charity, and Dr. Henry Marsh, the pioneering neurosurgeon.
But for the most part, they are ordinary citizens, sometimes photographed because they were caught up in bigger stories beyond their control, such as Corinne Jones, a survivor of The Grenfell tragedy, photographed by Jenny Lewis one week on, captured against the back wall of the hotel she and her family were being temporarily housed in.
Simon Bainbridge, Editorial Director, British Journal of Photography said “Collectively, the portraits celebrate the unique heritage and diversity of modern Britain, as much as its thriving photography culture and the myriad styles and approaches they employ in their work. Yet, as much as our tribal allegiances are on show in many of the photographs, each image reminds us that above all, we are a nation of individuals.”
The winning images from the exhibition can be seen at portraitofbritain.uk and many of them will be available to buy as art prints from gallery.portraitofbritain.uk
Locations where it can be seen include major rail hubs such as: Euston, King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, St. Pancras, Victoria and Waterloo in London as well as Brighton, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street. Manchester Piccadilly, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, etc.
It will also be showcased across retail screens UK-wide including major shopping destinations such as Bluewater, intu Lakeside, St David’s (Cardiff), Liverpool One, Trinity Leeds, Eldon Square (Newcastle), intu Metrocentre (Newcastle), West Quay (Southampton) and Brent Cross (London) and many more
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