When a person leaves a violent or controlling relationship they have often lost their identity. I Am is a visual narrative reclaiming the face or body. They ask us to confront their gaze, to pay attention to their trauma and survival, to note their resilience.
91% of domestic violence crimes that cause injuries are against women and 93% of perpetrators who abused women, survivors, are male. (figs. Women's Aid/SafeLives 2019). All of the people here have lived experience of intimate partner crime.
ObserverBBC news
the Telegraph
the Independent
the Standard
Vanity Fair
Participant's Stories
The Story behind the project.
More media at end. Commissioned by SafeLives and SICK! Festival.
BJP 365 Winner 2021
Abuse in the home and church.
Winner Edition 365 2023
Chief Inspector Sharon Baker
We are all transforming. It is part of life.
After trauma we may heal and grow.
I have an M.A. I am a proud black woman, mother, sister, friend.
I look angry here, I am angry.
He waited until he was 80 to speak about his childhood
Having a successful acting career does not protect a woman
With his boots and fists he broke my back.
Photograph this scar here on my neck.
I want to be around others like me that understand the codes of domestic abuse and racial trauma.
Transgender people experience intimate partner abuse
A long unhappy marriage, her charity just won a national award.
The next morning when I got up for school there was blood all over the living room.
His father murdered his mother and sister.
It's my choice now
what colour I paint, what clothes I want to wear
Life changing injuries, she became a reiki master to heal others.
It is my belief we can all heal from our past.
I think often as women we are taught and told not to be angry.
Runs a charity for survivors of domestic abuse.
It didn’t escalate until I fell pregnant at 18.
Holocaust survivor and psychotherapist. 40 year sentence of abuse in marriage.
Physiotherapist. Now living abroad.
I am on a journey to loving myself again
My wheelchair can make me a target for certain men.
We talked about reframing the gaze and how portraiture isn't just about being looked at – it's about looking right back.
My baby kept me going through some very difficult years.
She is highly educated.
I've kept the battle hidden put on a brave face, put on my mask so no one would know.
Motivational speaker for abuse and a survivor.
Cancer nurse.
A harrowing story about a daughter.
46 portraits...and the 7 people who had to withdraw for personal safety
...and those who are in hiding with witness protection who shared a story, but could not have a portrait taken.
- An article in the Observer
- A short clip available to watch on the Royal Family YouTube channel
- An article written for BBC news online
- An article in the Telegraph
- An article in the Independent
- An article in the Standard
- An article in Daily Mail
- An article in Vanity Fair
- An article in Woman & Home
- An article in People magazine
- Coverage by MSN
- Manchester Evening News-numerous articles including:
- An article in Manchester World
- An article in News and Star
- An article in Belfast Telegraph