Phil Ironside
A Portrait of A Painter, Gardener and Style Icon
“She made it possible for me to express who I am in a way I had only hoped would be possible.”
Phil’s words
“The Way Laura approached the photoshoot was inspiring and intimate. From the start I felt totally safe and in good hands and there was a buzz about the whole process of getting images to fulfill the intentions we had set out. She made it possible for me to express who I am in a way I had only hoped would be possible. And then she captured the moments with incredible skill and knowledge of her craft. Everything was in pursuit of portraying the essence of me and my world in the present. I felt totally at ease with anything she asked me to do and how easy she made it to follow my own ideas too. It was a true collaboration. To portray such intimate and accurate nuances of a person, reflecting their very core, in a set of images, is an extraordinary talent. This can only be done by creating an atmosphere were both the photographer and the subject are beautifully open and honest about who they are and what the intention of the collaboration is. You can’t ask someone to reveal themselves without revealing themselves first. Laura did this with consummate ease. At the end of the shoot I felt a sense of privilege to have worked with someone who can perceive and express the essence of someone or a moment in a single image. I am honoured to work with Laura and she has become ‘my photographer’. We will definitely be working on other projects. ”
P
Project - The Spirit of Malvern
Personal Work, getting to know the people, characters and brands of Malvern, Worcestershire. This is personal branding when it’s at it’s best as Phil’s brand is such an intimate expression of him.
Where - Phil’s Allotments, Malvern, Worcestershire
Why - Phil has become a good friend, I admire his comfort in his own skin and am intrigued by the relationship between Phil the painter and Phil the gardener. There is a grounding in his creativity and artistic practice that I find reassuring. His paintings are brilliant and an expression of this wonderful play between grounding and connection to the paint, the moment and himself.
Phil Ironside
Okay
The first time I created a portrait of Phil was during a pop-up shoot at Malvern Theatre's, while supporting Creative Connects for their inaugural Malvern Plein Air painting competition. I believe great art expresses the artist's perspective, capturing their unique view of a subject. The theme was "The Spirit of Malvern," and to me, the essence of a place lies in its people, community, connections, and characters. That's why it felt important to create portraits of the people at and around Plein Air.
On that day in May 2024, Phil was painting at the bandstand, and I invited him to have his portrait taken. This event was a perfect introduction for those curious about having their portrait done without needing to fully commit right away. I continue to create these introductory opportunities, join my mailing list to hear about them first.
