About The Collective

Our Story

The South West Collective of Photography Ltd (The South West Collective) is a company dedicated to promoting photography, art, illustration, painting and all art forms in the South West of England and United Kingdom. Run by Plymouth University’s BA Photography Graduate @samuelfradley96, the Collective aims to one day open an educational and creative space for artists to learn, grow, work and adapt as creative individuals.

In June 2018 The South West Collective of Photography Ltd was formed with the help of a £2000 Santander Entrepreneurial Bursary Grant, supported by The University of Plymouth. Since its creation in 2018, the Collective has gone from strength to strength. As of February 2021, the Collective has amassed an audience on social media of over 5000 people, as well as being supported and endorsed by some of the most famous artists in the United Kingdom.

In February 2020, our debut photographic exhibition “Visual Storytelling” took place. Visual Storytelling featured the work of six outstanding photographers who have told emotive and powerful stories through the medium of photography. Alongside the exhibition, we organised guest speaking talks by local legend Dr Kevin Dixon and by British Photographer Robert Darch. Our debut exhibition was a huge success and brings us much hope and promise for the future.

As phase two and year two of The South West Collective comes to an end, we look forward to continual growth and are proud support artists from all backgrounds across the world.

Our ethos is simple. We will never judge an artist based on their gender, experience, background or religion. We will always judge based on the quality of work being shown to us and the attitude of the artist presenting it.

We know how difficult the industry is. We also know how heavily it’s based in London. It’s time to bring that industry out of the city and share it across the United Kingdom.

In October 2020 we launched our new dedicated photography store called F16.

Since 2020, F16 Film Camera Store has kept the tradition of film alive. Guided by an international palate and wealth of industry experience, we stock and sell high quality, fully working Film Cameras, Camera Straps, Film and Accessories from around the world at outstanding prices.

F16 only stock products in low batches or as unique one off items to make sure that we are constantly selling different and quirky models of cameras to the curious photographers out there. We love photography. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never used a film camera, or if you are an amateur or professional. Our love for film has no end and we are here to guide you every step of the way. You can find us here: https://www.f16camerastore.co.uk/

Thanks for everything!

Samuel Fradley – Collective Owner & Founder

Robert Darch, Vale, The South West Collective of Photography Ltd
Robert Darch, Vale
Osamu Yokonami, Assembly
TSWC, Visual Storytelling Exhibition

The Collective

Sam Fradley – Founder and Director

Emma Booth Photographer

Emma Booth – Creative Director

Contributors

Kate Wolstenholme the south west collective of photography ltd

Kate Wolstenholme – Writer, Photographer and Contributor

Contributors Websites:

Ella Cousins: https://www.ellacousins.co.uk/

Kate Wolstenholme: https://katewolstenholme.co.uk/