Those of you who follow my Twitter account will be aware that I plan to call the State Of Britain series complete this year , I never expected the Brexit narrative to continue into 2019 or for it to be unresolved , although the open ended ending does feel right to me , it leaves room for a sequel , should the “Project Fear” predictions prove to be correct ?

I have sequenced the pictures with a tight almost brutal edit and it is looking good, even if I say so myself , I love the way these images bounce off each other when used in a double page spread book layout ! When viewed collectively the project definitely becomes more than the sum of its parts !

I photographed a broken Britain during 2015, before I acknowledged The “State” Of Britain theme formally in 2016, I decided to undertake this visual survey of my country & everyday life when my instincts told me that the times & events ahead could reshape the social, physical and political landscape of Britain forever.

Government policies of austerity, created a Britain that was more divided than ever before, homelessness, rough sleeping and food-bank use reached record levels as the UK’s future with Europe remained uncertain, people appeared to be hungry for change. ?

On the 12th of December 2019 a Tory Government was re-elected “to get Brexit done” !

This series gives visual insights into British identity, aspirations & uncertainty .

I approached this series with a mindset of survey, inquiry and creativity , the completed project integrates a social documentary approach with a Street Photography ethos .

These pictures were never intended to be yesterdays news pictures, this work should be seen as considered reflections of the Brexit era !

This work reflects the faces, places & events from my everyday life , 2015 - 2019 .

David Barrett

Keep it real !