A recent trip to Amsterdam has inspired me to embark on two photography projects. The first being a photobook, documenting the last 4-6 years of austerity in the UK, the protests I have been to and the events I have witnessed. The other is to capture the people and stories behind the effects of austerity and society in general.

The photobook is going to be called ‘A Tale of Austerity, told one picture at a time’. My hope is to get this book signed by some of the people contained within and have it auctioned for charity. The charities I have focused on this time are Shelter and Focus 12, for the homeless and for alcohol and drug rehabilitation services.

My decision to capture the effects of austerity on the people who surround us was inspired by the Peasant Portraits of Van Gogh. I have decided to call this Peasant Life UK (PLUK). It is hard sometimes to sit and talk to people and hear how they got where they are today. I see all too often people just ignoring and walking past people without giving them a second thought, first impressions (we are told) matter. Underneath it all, there is a story – we are all humans with the same basic needs – don’t judge a book by its cover.