Julia Hawkins, New Year's Day, 2/5, 'It was New Year’s Day 2...

Estimate

£250 - £300

Julia Hawkins, New Year's Day, 2/5, 'It was New Year’s Day 2022. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was in the middle of a major relapse of ME/CFS. I was exhausted and felt a thousand years old. But as I shuffled through my local park towards the lake I noticed a young family feeding the birds and a rambunctious mix of kittiwakes, grayling geese, pigeons, ducks and swans all started to go crazy for the scraps of bread being thrown into the air. I picked up my camera, slowed down the shutter speed a little, and for a few moments I felt as free as the birds.' Printed on Giclée Hahnemühle German Etching paper, framed, 41cm x 51cm overall

Julia is an award-winning photographer spanning portraiture, documentary and fine art photography. The themes of connection and stillness run through all her work. Diagnosed with ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in late 2021 and unable to work for many months, she started to develop a more regular photographic practice. Now able to work part-time, she has recently completed a portrait photo book about loneliness which will be published by The School of Life in late 2025. She continues to develop her fine art photography, and was part of a ‘Women in Art’ photography exhibition curated by ECAD at Cromwell Place, South Kensington in March 2023.

Julia was one of the winners of the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Britain Award in 2024, and was also shortlisted for the US Be Still Media Prize for her loneliness project in 2024. Prior to becoming a photographer she spent more than 20 years working in international development and sustainability.