Claire Lawrie 
Featured photographer

The Chapel

Chapel market, is the heart of the Angel Islington. Known for its exceptional energy, the market sprang up around 1875 and is still going strong today despite massive regeneration and gentrification of the area.

The portraits were shot in situ, but I chose to shoot my subjects in the formal manner of studio portraits to give the sitters a chance to collect themselves, and to pose for me, and as a way of concentrating on details of clothing and style. Many of these people have long standing connections to the market and this area of London, and I hope that the work conveys their sense of pride in the location and its unique identity. Regular customers and stall- holders hold the market dear, recognizing it as an essential community hub in a city that is changing all the time. The market community are full of stories, shared experiences and family history, exploring their identities and the function of the space was my way of documenting the individuals that make this place as important as it is. The project was commissioned by Claremont Project An art and therapy centre on White Lion St that runs parallel to the market.

© All photos courtesy of Claire Lawrie