Blackpool Exhbition

Preston Exhbition

Over two years, I researched and documented inclusive grassroots skateboarding communities in Northern England, that connect female, marginalised and LGBTQI+
individuals. This project aimed to address gaps in representation, participation, and historical documentation within skateboarding. These groups have created safe spaces and welcoming environments, where skating is a tool for empowerment, unlocking freedom and where failure is accepted and celebrated as a rite of passage.

I have learnt from them so much about community, survival, resilience, kinship, trust and bravery.

Through moving images and recorded interviews, I sought to authentically capture the personal stories of individuals within these skate communities. Democratising photography and filmmaking by having cameras available for skaters during skate sessions has created a rich archive of images and a three minute film. The quote ‘Skate like a lass’ comes from the tag line of ‘Cumbria Cvven’ a Girls skate group founded in Barrow-in-Furness. With so much thanks and gratitude to everyone who made this possible.

Featured Skate collectives/Parks
SLAG Collective ︎
Empress Skateboarding ︎
Big Woody’s Skate shop ︎
Warehouse indoor Park ︎
Real Skate Northwest ︎
Ralph Fest ︎
House of Wingz ︎

Special Thank you to Slag Collective, Empress Skateboarding,  Cumbria Cvven, Lily, Joel, Lucy, Emily, Gemma, Kamilė, Dulcimer, Chloe, Ali, Hans, Anya, Layna, Maysa, Amaya, Molly, Amber, Gracie, Lois, Rob Sara and Lara Monro.

Shiny Awards Winner 2025

This project was also shared with BA Photography Students at the University of Cumbria, where I was appointed an Honorary Photography Teaching Fellow in Sep 2023. The final work will be archived with the North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Made with support from Arts Council England and National Lottery Fund