I am delighted to announce that I have a feature in The Telegraph Magazine this Saturday, July 29th. I began this project over a year and a half ago and have meet lots of wonderful people who enjoy, building and making model boats. It’s a labour of love and very much a social activity. The age ranges from 10 to 85 years old, with a limit of 50 members in the club and a long waiting list. Watch this space for the publication feature.

THE MODEL BOAT PEOPLE, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

News Release
The Art of Roller Skating | Debby Besford

The Art of Roller Skating is an exhibition by artist and documentary photographer Debby
Besford, celebrating the artistic roller skating heritage of Great Yarmouth, which is hosted by
originalprojects at PRIMEYARC. Debby grew up in Great Yarmouth, where she trained as an
artistic roller-skater as a teenager, and also went on to become a national skating judge,
travelling all over the country to skating competitions.

For the past 5 years Debby has been documenting the journeys of seven young local
female artistic roller-skaters as they train and develop their skills, a project which was
naturally inspired by her own love for the sport. Debby’s objective is to showcase this often
forgotten sport with an original eye. Thanks to the popularity of shows like Dancing on Ice,
artistic roller skating is often overshadowed by ice skating. The sport has many facets to it,
from artistic figure and free skating to disco and street skating.

Debby wanted to demonstrate a visual contrast by removing the skaters from the ‘show’ of
the rink and instead using the background of a domestic, intimate situation, reminiscent of
her own experience as a teen skater, where her proud parents took photos of her poised in
her skates with trophies clasped in hand. These documented moments marked a truly
important chapter in her teenage life and one that she felt could be an interesting
approach to celebrate the girls in the project.

The images have a slightly surreal quality, showing the girls in their performance clothes out
of context, with the dissonance between the domestic setting, highlighting the balance
between growing up as a teenager and the dedication and commitment required to
become a professional sportsperson.
charity number 1181297
info@originalprojects.space
www.originalprojects.space
registered office: 1 Saint John’s Terrace, Great Yarmouth NR30 2NF
originalprojects;

Debby has also documented the objects that accompany the life of an artistic roller skater
such as roller skates, costumes and trophies and galas, and has produced a series of slow
motion videos showing the detail and intricacy of the movements, the skill, athleticism and
emotion it takes to jump in mid-air. These movements are repeated to move towards the
perfect jump.

Members of the roller-skating community are invited to contribute their own photographs or
memorabilia which will form part of the exhibition, and Debby and originalprojects; would
also like to capture any stories anyone may have which may form part of a podcast.
Anyone who has anything they’d like to share please contact info@originalprojects.space
The exhibition is supported by a Project Grant from Arts Council England and produced in
collaboration with originalprojects; and will be on display at PRIMEYARC (in the former
Debenhams in Market Gates Shopping Centre)
Open times:
5th March – 1st May
Wednesdays – Saturdays 12-5
Sundays 12-4.
Notes for editors
For further information or press quotes please contact:
Kaavous Clayton (Co-Director, originalprojects;)
kaavous@hotmail.com
07814562906
or
Julia Devonshire (Co-Director, originalprojects;)
julia.devonshire@gmail.com
07930874613
www.debbybesfordphotography.co.uk
www.originalprojects.space
charity number 1181297
www.originalprojects.space

20190920_ARTISTIC ROLLER SKATER_SAV

originalprojects;

Part of The Venetian Waterways Photo Project. Kelvin is a bespoke carpenter has been commissioned to restore the wooden animal heads that were once attached to boats.  People could take a trip on them at the waterways. They will be displayed on once of the islands at the site soon. Note see image of postcard June 2019.

190313_ANIMAL HEAD RESTORATION, Photo by Debby Besford Photography

Debby Besford

Just to reveal who is behind the camera – I don’t actually wear these glasses when I am taking photographs, but need them for the smaller details….

I am thrilled that I have been selected to exhibit at the Retina International Photography Festival in Edinburgh this July 2017.

CHAMPION ROLLER SKATERS

A personal documentary photography project about Artistic Roller Skaters.
Debby Besford captures the dedication these young artistic skaters show for their sport and stand in glory in their home environments. Roller skating demands similar technical elements to ice skating; this Photo Essay captures a highly skillful yet forgotten sport.

This is an ongoing project.

See links below:

Photographing my niece was such a special moment last summer. We both had so much fun together. I took some photographs of her in between much laughter and her incredible boundless energy. This portrait is Georgie looking at herself in a mirror – curious and silent. A wonderful and precious girl with a beautiful spirit.

A PORTRAIT OF GEORGIE

I am working on a series of portraits about the transitional stages teenagers experience with their identity and how their gaze suggests a detachment from the world around them.

TOM_PORTRAIT_TRANSITION_SEPT 2016

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to meet Danielle who is an Artistic Champion Roller Skater. She is studying a Law Degree at present and is keen at weekends to continue her passion for skating and coaching. It was a pleasure to meet her and Danielle’s Mother, Amanda, and have the chance to photograph the skater in her family home.  My documentary photography project is slowly taking shape now and I will be entering the second phase of it soon. Watch this space….

DANIELLE_ARTISTIC ROLLER SKATER_SCRATBY_GT YARMOUTH

I have been working on a series of portraits of incredible people who are in their ‘Golden years,’ and feel very fortunate to meet each individual who have such zest for life and stories to share.

JIMMY RAVEN, PORTRAITS, APRIL 2015