Graduate photographer breathing life into Weston-super-Mare’s own identity

“This is my first love letter to my hometown,” says Archie Byron, a 23-year-old photography student who’s just graduated from UWE Bristol.

Over the last six years, he’s documented life in Weston-super-Mare, drawing on his own experiences of growing up in the seaside town. His final university project, a series of photographs called ‘Love and Other Feelings’, is drawn from a passion to represent people in coastal towns, particularly those in social housing. He continues to live in social housing himself.

Archie’s aim is to look for instances of love in its many forms across the town. But, while he wanted to stick to this theme, he says he didn’t want to ignore the realities of living there: “It is not a beautiful, love-filled place; it’s home to deprivation, violence and drug addiction.”

Despite this, he has a clear message: people should love their hometowns, even when they're far from perfect.

“It takes real time and effort to truly love a place, especially when that place is seen as less desirable,” said Archie. “I would like to push back against people's constant want for more.

“The bleakness of the town is an integral part of the atmosphere of Weston-super-Mare, with long, drawn-out winters, only to be broken by swarms of tourists and shadeless summer days. Love isn’t just about the good times; sometimes it’s about sticking through the hardships.”

Archie says his intention is to take the struggles in Weston and create stories for the people who are excluded from major discussions and decision making.

His work ‘Love and Other Feelings’ features portraits and observations of everyday life, attempting to reveal a different side to Weston than the one often portrayed through headlines.

“Looking at statistics ignores so much of who these very real people are,” he said. “A short glance at the numbers tells you a lot, but it doesn't tell you everything.”

Weston-super-Mare is home to some of the lowest life expectancies in England; just 67.5 years-old for a man in Central ward. The only seaside town with a lower life expectancy is Blackpool, which statistically has the lowest life expectancy in the whole of England.

“Coastal regions have always had a hard time being heard, and I see this as my chance to have my voice heard,” said Archie. “Not only photographing and showing people Weston, but by truly identifying with the place myself.

“It’s also a chance for me to address the overlooked South West, which is never really included in conversations about poverty and identity. We often hear about poverty in post-industrial northern towns, and this can make people from the south feel unheard in these conversations.

“I have travelled to many seaside towns in the UK, and there’s something so beautifully unifying about them: we all face a lot of the same struggles. Towns are at the mercy of the seasons.”

Over the last year, as he completed his BA (Hons) Photography degree, Archie has been closely involved with Polly Braden’s Against the Tide documentary project, which explores the effects of coastal poverty in a collaboration with young people from some of the most deprived and often forgotten places across England and Wales.

It shares stories of fragile seasonal employment, ageing populations, and what often comes across as love-hate relationships with the towns they call home.

This summer, work created through the project is being exhibited at Arnolfini in Bristol, bringing audiences face-to-face with a generation navigating life at the sharp edge of inequality, while also imagining something different. 

“Joining this project suited me very well because it covers many of the most important factors in my life and my photography,” he said.

The Weston element of Against the Tide has been led by local artist and photographer Jamie Dormer-Durling, who first taught Archie at college and works with Alliance Homes.

“This is the same housing association I live with and hope to work with in the future,” Archie said. “Having someone involved who understands the situation has helped me flourish creatively this year. It’s also been great to get my photography in front of lots of different people from Weston.”

His involvement with Against the Tide recently led to an invitation to Parliament for the Coastal Communities Youth Summit, where young people from coastal towns met MPs to discuss their lived experiences in their communities.

“I was nervous at first,” he said. “But I quickly began speaking about improvements and changes I’d like to see. I spoke about how difficult it is for people my age to move out without creating problems for family left behind. I talked about transport, rent prices and the lack of support for young people.

“I was well received and I will feel more confident speaking about my town to authorities - something I will continue to do in my life. Living in one of the most deprived seaside towns in the UK really does come with downsides, and I would like to use my voice to continue fighting against injustice.”

Away from photography, Archie has become increasingly involved in community projects. He sits on resident panels linked to Alliance Homes and the Pride in Place Fund, a £20 million investment programme designed to improve parts of Weston-super-Mare over the next decade.

As part of this, Archie hopes to develop creative opportunities for local people and is fundraising towards a photography workshop for the community.

But now, with graduation behind him, Archie hopes his work will encourage people to look at Weston-super-Mare differently.

“I have learned to express myself in Weston, and it is also the vessel I use to express myself,” he said.

“My hope is for more people to be able to channel their home into who they are. If you can’t love your home, how do you love yourself?

“I believe I am in a very lucky position, whereby my greatest passion is on my doorstep. I believe I will have the chance to make something different to much of what has come before.”