Breakwater (2017-present)

A breakwater. Out at sea. Deeply sunk into the sand to protect those behind it. A great secret of caregiving is that for a time you will quell the surge of the waves for those you love whilst quietly trying to not be pulled out with the tide.

This self-portraiture series started in 2017 following the birth of my second son. This collection of work has a developing narrative; one that grows, changes and endures with every year that passes. It began as a vulnerable & therapeutic response to the tender transformation of the motherhood experience but later evolved into deeper reflections on identity, isolation, miscarriage and loss during the pandemic. In 2022 it shifted again into navigating pregnancy after loss & visceral reflection of our daughter’s near-fatal birth.

This body of work is arranged non-sequentially as it addresses fear and, joy, grief and unravelling of self – both the light & the dark. Often appearing in images alone, intimacy and tenderness go hand in hand as the images address the passing of time and the profound way this role has shaped my experience of living in the world.