Biography
Sadie Alty is a Photographer currently based in Totnes, Devon where
she was born and raised. She has returned recently after completing
her degree in Documentary Photography at the University of Wales, Newport.
During her time away she has developed her own style in which she photographs
images that are important to her and which reflect on current issues,
and her own English heritage.
Sadie has worked on commission for London based media groups such as
John Brown and has also worked on private commissions for local people
and businesses. She also has a keen interest in the way that arts and
media can influence children and has also worked on inspirational workshops
with young people and the medium of photography such as the 'Open Eye
Project' with photographer Kate Mount.
In 2008 Sadie won 'Adult Landscape Photographer' in the competition
'Focus on Nature'. In 2009 she exhibited her work at Candid Arts Gallery
in London in a group exhibition 'Wake' in which she took a major part
in the organisation of the exhibition. Currently she is working on new
projects in which she hopes will strengthen her portfolio further and
attract a wider cliental.
Statement
"'What is England'? To me England is a country of culture and in
many ways of acceptance. Many outsiders see England as the land of promise.
It is a country of democracy and fairness and sometimes, more so than
not, it is a place in which people forget the good and focus on the
bad. What ever you see England as? It is shaped by the places and people
whom create it.
With all honesty I can say that my view of England has been strongly
shaped by the town I grew up in Totnes and the areas that surround it.
I now we all have some kind of nostalgia towards the place we live however
I am being perfectly truthful when I say that where I am from it is
beautiful, unique, alternative, historic, contemporary and most important
to me, individual.
I have lived in Totnes, Devon most of my life except for three years
when I moved to South Wales, it was during this period I realised just
how extraordinary and diverse Devon could be and how special it is.
Totnes is an alternative, individual, transitional town. It is surrounded
by some of England's most beautiful scenic landscape and is a place
in which I am glad and honoured to call my home.
I feel that it is Devon and my upbringing here that has shaped my views
and has been one of my inspirations as a photographer. My other biggest
inspiration as a photographer has always been determined by what I believe
is important to our future but also how it was shaped by our past. My
work has always been about current issues and my views of them and I
think it is important to question what we hear in every day life.
I hope that within my work for this project you will be able to see
some of the things that we should be proud to say is what England is
about."