EDITORIAL COMMISSION · THE GUARDIAN · 2026
Enslaving Nation
St Bartholomew's Hospital & St Paul's Cathedral, London
In 2026, I was commissioned by The Guardian to contribute photography to its Enslaving Nation investigation, examining the historical connections between Britain's institutions and the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans.
The assignment took place over two days, beginning at St Bartholomew's Hospital before moving to St Paul's Cathedral.
Much of my documentary work has focused on people, communities and the events unfolding around us. This commission presented a different challenge: photographing the physical spaces, architectural details and historical records that reveal connections to a past that continues to shape the present.
Working to specific editorial requirements while being given considerable creative freedom, I approached both locations through my own documentary perspective. Using composition, available light and my distinctive approach to colour and grading, I sought to capture more than the grandeur of these historic buildings, drawing attention to the details, atmosphere and quieter moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The challenge was to balance my own visual interpretation with the needs of the investigation, creating photographs that were both visually compelling and editorially relevant.
The resulting images accompanied The Guardian's reporting in September 2026.
DAY ONE · ST BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL
St Bartholomew's Hospital | London, 2026
My first day took me to St Bartholomew's Hospital, where The Guardian was investigating the historical connections between the hospital's benefactors and the transatlantic slave trade.
Working from an editorial shot list, I photographed the hospital's historic interiors, including the Great Hall, its commemorative boards and the architectural details that formed part of the investigation.
The challenge was to balance the visual character of these spaces with the specific requirements of the story. Alongside wider establishing photographs, I concentrated on the details that would help readers understand the historical connections being examined.
St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 2026
Photographed on assignment for The Guardian.
The entrance to the Great Hall, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 2026.
The Hogarth Staircase and William Hogarth's paintings, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 2026.
The Great Hall, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 2026. Commemorative boards record the hospital's historic benefactors.
View from inside the Great Hall towards the Hogarth Stair, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, 2026.
The Hogarth Staircase, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 2026.
Detail of an 1821 benefactors' board, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 2026.
Commemorative boards recording the hospital's benefactors, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 2026.
Names and donations recorded on a historic benefactors' board, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 2026.
DAY TWO · ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
At St Paul's Cathedral, the brief centred on photographing the ornate gold cross at the altar.
Beyond this, I was given the freedom to explore the cathedral through my own photographic perspective, documenting its architecture, monuments and the quieter moments of everyday life within its historic surroundings.
Several of these additional photographs were subsequently selected by The Guardian to accompany its reporting on the Church of England's historical connections to transatlantic enslavement.
The Quire at St Paul's Cathedral, London, where the cathedral's choir and clergy gather for worship.
The tomb of Admiral Lord Nelson in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral, London.
Statue of Charles James Napier inside St Paul's Cathedral, London, alongside contemporary visitor information.
An elevated view from St Paul's Cathedral, looking across the City of London towards the River Thames.
Published in The Guardian
Selected photographs from this commission accompanied The Guardian's Enslaving Nation investigation, published in September 2026.