Charlie's Year - A critically acclaimed documentary project of Welsh farming
Feb 20, 2021
Exhibition 2021
After a brief catch-up in 2018, a former neighbour and young farmer, Charlie, told me how a sudden family illness abruptly changed his plans. Overnight, his dream of travelling to New Zealand to shear was replaced by the reality of stepping into his father’s role on the family farm. Alongside his sister Pip and his mother Katherine, Charlie took on responsibilities he hadn’t expected to shoulder so soon. Running the farm—spread across three areas of land that straddle the hills and valleys near the Black Mountains—is a relentless endeavour, both physically and mentally. I had long wanted to create a photographic story rooted in the farming community.
Eventually, Charlie agreed to let me tag along and document his life and work. From that, Charlie’s Year was born. Over roughly fifteen months, in all weathers and often challenging conditions, I was given rare access to his world. What emerged was a visual story of labour, landscape, livestock and resilience—a real agricultural diary of Welsh farming, warts and all.
At a time when many children don’t know where their food comes from, documenting this felt important. Farmers—particularly the younger generation—are navigating a complex mix of social, environmental and political pressures. They face difficult choices: whether to continue in the footsteps of previous generations, diversify to survive, or walk away altogether in an ever-changing marketplace shaped by climate change and shifting food cultures.
Never have farmers faced such sustained pressure. Livelihoods—and entire ways of life—are under threat. Long winters, financial uncertainty, family responsibility and mental strain all take their toll.
Farming today is not a simple choice. Charlie, his family, contractors and colleagues all played their part throughout the year, patiently tolerating a large lens pointed in their direction. For that, I am deeply grateful.
You can view the full collection of images from the exhibition below.