Shirley Baker

I recently visited Oldham art gallery to see the Exhibition of Photographer Shirley Baker. She is without doubt one of my all time favourite photographers and her work captivates me every time I see it.  Her work documents life of the working class families of Manchester and Salford and depicts the grim reality of a transitional time of rehousing and a benefit state.  When describing her work she  states,

'I would go out on to the streets capturing this upheaval, photographing people I came across. I couldn't help it: around every corner there was someone different. It became an obsession.

Her work encapsulates all that I am interested in as an illustrator/photographer. This information of History, Culture and Civilisation mixed with my Illustrative approach has helped me to build a way of working that I find feeds my interests and my collage making skills. Producing and re-combining visual and photographic elements help me to build new surroundings for my subjects and gives me knowledge of placement and context.


Shirley's work is inspirational and helps me to visualise a bygone time. Her work shows progression and simplicity and her ability to naturally compose subjects are equal to that of New York street photographer Vivian Maier.