A ten-year project to capture this highs and lows of life as a hill farm in all seasons has gone on show at the Fitzhugh Library in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Images in the exhibition by Spring Gardens photographer Elaine Vizor were first displayed at Bishop Auckland Town Hall in spring last year as part of an event to mark International Women’s Day and featured Newbiggin hill farmers Anna Wood and her daughter Elizabeth Scott.
Now Ms Vizor has expanded the exhibition titled Four Seasons of a Hill Farmer, which will be on display at the Fitzhugh until May 24 and includes more than 20 photographs showing contemporary and environmental portraiture with an accompanying soundscape by writer and broadcaster Marie Gardiner you hear the voices of some those featured in the images.
Ms Vizor said: “There is something about farming, farmers, the seasonal changes, the relentlessness of the work life and especially women farmers that sparks admiration and creative interest in me. I want to observe them, admire them and of course photograph them.
“Photographing them in a way that I hope reflects their sheer grit, dedication, determination, devotion, tenacity and love for what they do and in a way that reflects their personalities.”
Central to the exhibition are portraits of Anna and Elizabeth at work on their Newbiggin farm, which were taken over the course of four years, and the hard but rewarding life of farmer Sue from Weardale.
She added: “I first met Elizabeth at their Newbiggin farm in 2021 when she was just 16, a student at Newton Ridge College in Cumbria, and working on her parents’ farm learning her trade.
“It is lovely to see how Elizabeth, now 19, interacts with the various farm animals. She enjoys working with them all but has a special interest in sheep. Her favourite breeds are Swaledale and Herdwick and she has great expertise in this field. When I asked Elizabeth what she likes about sheep, she said ‘everything about sheep but lambing especially’.”
The exhibition will be on show until May 27 at the Fitzhugh Library, which is open Monday and Tuesday from 10.30am until 2.30pm. For more information email fitzhughlibrary@gmail.com
