‍The Strandline is a personal exploration of my sense of self and emotional connection with the sea. It examines the mark left by the sea on the human condition and personal identity. Connection to the sea has been part of my identity from a young age - large family gatherings on the Northumberland coast where my mam and her sisters used to holiday with my grandparents who in turn had holidayed there themselves as children were a regular feature of my childhood. The British coastline is stamped on my sense of self and my association with the call of the wild. Questioning perceptions, memories, associations and experiences of the sea, The Strandline explores the thresholds and liminal states of littoral space along and between land and water, sea and sky, memory and experience. Drawing on the cultural, nostalgic and experiential connections with the sea and how these impact our sensory and cognitive responses, the project examines how memories shift and fade, transfer and - sometimes falsely - embed associations in our psyche.

The project adopts a multi-media approach and introspective reflection encompassing soundscapes, video and still imagery, incorporating self-portraiture, ‘portraiture’ of the sea, and conceptual, abstract and immersive imagery. I use a variety of techniques, from analogue formats to digital and cameraless strategies. I am interested in the mark the sea leaves on me metaphorically and in the impact the sea - and I - leave on my images physically.

About

Concerned mainly with the themes of identity and transitions, Rachel’s artistic practice examines the individual, connections and shared experiences and the human condition. The sounds, textures and ambience of place; the cultural and personal resonance with and imprint we leave on location and landscape; the multi-faceted self; the bonds of shared experience; and the impact of life’s milestones on identity all inform her work. Rachel is trained as a photo-journalist over 25 years ago and has photographed everyone, from sheep farmers to royalty. Her work has received several accolades, including being a Portrait of Britain 2020 winner and being published by legendary portrait photographer Rankin in his This is Britain collection. She has two self-published books exploring the themes of motherhood and identity. She has been featured in several high profile publications and media, including The Guardian, BBC, Vogue Italia, FujiLove Magazine. She is a regular contributor on photography to Huffington Post, FujiLove and Selfish Mother. Her work has been widely exhibited, including at The Guardian’s Women Behind the Lens; Portrait of Britain nationwide; Shutterhub’s Everyday Delight and Postcards from Great Britain; and her solo exhibition Motherhood and Identity with Sydenham Arts.