‘‘I’m delighted to announce that my portrait of Chief Inspector Sharon Baker is a winner of the prestigious British Journal of Photography Portrait of Britain 2022. Sharon is one of the most senior police officers in the UK. As a survivor of violence against women, her work involves revolutionising professional standards within the force. The portrait was taken at her home last January and very much a collaborative piece. We wanted to tell a story about how we heal from trauma. It is not a linear narrative but if we set the intention to find the quiet moments of contentment, joy in nature, gratitude for a life we rebuild, we have hope.

I had gone to Somerset to take a more formal portrait for I Am, the series I was making about domestic abuse, whilst I was artist in residence for SafeLives, the charity whose patron is the Queen Consort. After the shoot we were relaxing and Sharon sat in her favourite space in her home. The winter sun lit her and I asked if I could load another roll of film and take this portrait. This is the magic of photography for me, when I feel, more than see, a moment and am compelled to capture it. A portrait means to bear witness to another, to honour them, it is a beautiful and powerful thing to do. I’m lucky to have this privilege.

2022 was a busy year for me with three solo shows. Production company SICK! placed I Am in a space outside, and on the metro system throughout the city, to engage with 800,000 people. In the installation itself we had 86,800 visitors. HRH attended the opening and it was featured in the national press and TV. Your Own Light opened the same month and Still I Rise, commissioned by the NHS and Salford Integrated Partnership, opened in October. Art is an agent of change and I’m humbled to be a part of each project.

At the moment I’m making work for my Masters degree in Fine Art but I’m still available for commissions.’