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Drag Queen

March 12, 2025

In 2003 I had an exhibition called ‘Spitalfierlds 25’ which was comprised of photography, collage and experimental work inspired by Spitalfields. The venue was the Brick House on Brick Lane – a great venue for an exhibition given the location and the size of the space (see below). During the month the exhibition was on Hazuan Hashim and myself decided to organise a number of events during the evening. On one occasion Asian drag queens and their friends from around East London were invited to a party at the space. Loads turned up wearing brilliant costumes; some people changed at the venue and applied make up, others turned up ready to dance! On the night I was able to take many photographs of a wonderful night. Those images I made on that night keep giving and have proved an invaluable source for further work.

Brick House exhibition of Phil Maxwell photographs, 2003
Opening of ‘Brick Lane’ at the Brick House, 2003.
‘Drag Queen’ 2003 – (detail) mixed media on paper 2025.
‘Drag Queen’ 2003 – (detail) mixed media on paper 2025.
‘Drag Queen’ 2003 – (detail) mixed media on paper 2025.

Click here for information about my latest exhibition.

Construction Worker

March 4, 2025
‘Construction Worker In Bangladesh’ – mixed media on paper 2025.
‘Construction Worker In Bangladesh’ (Detail) – mixed media on paper 2025.
‘Construction Worker In Bangladesh’ (Detail) – mixed media on paper 2025.

A 2021 report by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies revealed that 154 construction workers perished on the job that year alone. Construction work is universally acknowledged as high-risk, fraught with the potential for injury or even fatality. In Bangladesh, the risk is exacerbated by the fact that many of the workers are migrants, a demographic often synonymous with vulnerability in the labour market. 

In the UK the construction industry is only lightly regulated and deaths on construction sights are not uncommon. 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2023/24 in the UK; 51 of those were in the construction industry.

This work examines the perilous working conditions of construction workers. Despite globalisation (referenced by the telephone lines) the construction industry everywhere is a vital part of the economy but the workers in that economy are often on precarious terms and conditions and poor wages.

Click here for information about my latest exhibition.

Around Liverpool (80)

March 3, 2025
Escalator in Liverpool One. Liverpool, January 2025.
Evening in Liverpool One. Liverpool, January 2025.
Cyclist on Wavertree High Street. Liverpool. February 2025.
Launderette in Toxteth. Liverpool, 1970s.
Shop keeper on Wavertree High Street. Liverpool. February 2025.
Conversation on Wavertree High Street. Liverpool. February 2025.
Myrtle Street. Liverpool. February 2025.
Irish music session in the Edinburgh pub in Wavertree. Liverpool, January 2025.
Smithdown Road. Liverpool 1970s.

Click here for information about my latest exhibition.

Matriarch

February 24, 2025
‘Matriarch’ – mixed media on paper 2025.
‘Matriarch’ (detail) – mixed media on paper 2025.
‘Matriarch’ (detail) – mixed media on paper 2025.
‘Matriarch’ (detail) – mixed media on paper 2025.

Click here for information about my latest exhibition.

Two Bikes At Night

February 22, 2025
‘Two Bikes At Night’ – mixed media on paper, 2025.
‘Two Bikes At Night’ (detail) – mixed media on paper, 2025.
‘Two Bikes At Night’ (detail) – mixed media on paper, 2025.

Click here for information about my latest exhibition.