Project in production...
Skate Like a Lass.
Two years ago I started on a research project to try and document inclusive grassroots skateboarding communities connecting marginalised and LGBTQI+ individuals in the North of England; driven to bridge the gap in the historical documentation of skateboarding. From mountains in Lake District to Blackpool promenade these skate collectives have created safe spaces 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. The work is never really done (as always) but in 2025 I will exhibit the photographs taken by skaters, my portraits of them, archive the work in a zine designed by @fem.kecampbell and share the film.. Watch this space!
Special thank you to those in the film: Lily, Lucy, Emily, Gemma, Kamilė, Dulcimer, Chloe, Ali, Hans, Anya, Layna, Maysa, Amaya, Joel, Slag Collective, Empress Skateboarding, Cumbria Cvven, Yoyo’s Pool Kats, Lara Monro,
Supported by Arts Council and The National Lottery Fund.
Film credits:
Editor Sara Faulkner @sarafaulkneredits
DOP Abigail Timmins @abitimminsdop
Original Score Brain Mc Namara
Production Assistant Reuben Hibbert @reuben_hibbert
Additional Cinematography Joel Holt, Alicia Eland, Layna, 🙌
Graphic Design Ed Strachan @strachvisuals
Post production producer Matilda Silversved
Production Company CANADA @canadacanadacom
Offline Edit Homespun @homespunediting
Edit Producer Alice Clarke
Edit assistant Joe Bolger
Sound House Sine @sineaudio
Sound design Michele Covio @maichiprojects
Sound producer Julian Marshall @therealjulianmarshallswork
Online Freefolk @freefolkstudios
Colourist Edward Webb @edwardwebbcolour
Post producer Megan Hindle
Flame Andy Copy
Film Processing - Kodak London Lab @kodak_shootfilm
Scan Digital Orchard @digital_orchard
Film Supplied by Kodak with thanks to Julie Taylor‑Butt
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.
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Skate Like a Lass.
Two years ago I started on a research project to try and document inclusive grassroots skateboarding communities connecting marginalised and LGBTQI+ individuals in the North of England; driven to bridge the gap in the historical documentation of skateboarding. From mountains in Lake District to Blackpool promenade these skate collectives have created safe spaces 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. The work is never really done (as always) but in 2025 I will exhibit the photographs taken by skaters, my portraits of them, archive the work in a zine designed by @fem.kecampbell and share the film.. Watch this space!
Special thank you to those in the film: Lily, Lucy, Emily, Gemma, Kamilė, Dulcimer, Chloe, Ali, Hans, Anya, Layna, Maysa, Amaya, Joel, Slag Collective, Empress Skateboarding, Cumbria Cvven, Yoyo’s Pool Kats, Lara Monro,
Supported by Arts Council and The National Lottery Fund.
Film credits:
Editor Sara Faulkner @sarafaulkneredits
DOP Abigail Timmins @abitimminsdop
Original Score Brain Mc Namara
Production Assistant Reuben Hibbert @reuben_hibbert
Additional Cinematography Joel Holt, Alicia Eland, Layna, 🙌
Graphic Design Ed Strachan @strachvisuals
Post production producer Matilda Silversved
Production Company CANADA @canadacanadacom
Offline Edit Homespun @homespunediting
Edit Producer Alice Clarke
Edit assistant Joe Bolger
Sound House Sine @sineaudio
Sound design Michele Covio @maichiprojects
Sound producer Julian Marshall @therealjulianmarshallswork
Online Freefolk @freefolkstudios
Colourist Edward Webb @edwardwebbcolour
Post producer Megan Hindle
Flame Andy Copy
Film Processing - Kodak London Lab @kodak_shootfilm
Scan Digital Orchard @digital_orchard
Film Supplied by Kodak with thanks to Julie Taylor‑Butt
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.
