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Personal statement by British photographer Chris KILLIP
“I last photographed in Skinningrove in 1984, and didn’t return for thirty years. When I did I was shocked by how it had changed, as only one boat was still fishing. For me, Skinningrove’s sense of purpose was bound up in its collective obsession with the sea. Skinningrove fishermen believed that the sea in front of them was their private territory, theirs alone. Without the competitive energy that came from fishing, the place seemed like a pale reflection of its former self." (Chris KILLIP)Background information
Chris KILLIP is widely regarded as one of the most influential British photographers. Born in the Isle of Man in 1946, he began his career as a commercial photographer before turning to his own work in the late 1960s. His book, ‘In Flagrante’, a collection of photographs made in the North East of England during the 1970s and early 1980s, is now recognized as a landmark work of documentary photography. The village of Skinningrove lies on the North-East coast of England, hidden in a steep valley it veers away from the main road and faces out onto the North Sea.The photographic volume 'Skinningrove' is the last publication he worked on before his passing in 2020. Known for his passion for photography books, he oversaw all elements of this book, which features many unseen images. The photographs that he made of Skinningrove's, fiercely independent hard working-class community, between 1982 and 1984 are possibly his most intimate work. The place had a definite edge, and it took time for this stranger to be tolerated. His greatest ally in gaining acceptance was Leso (Leslie Holliday), the most outgoing of the younger fishermen. Leso and Chris KILLIP never talked about what he was doing there, but when someone questioned his presence, Leso would intercede and vouch for him with, 'He’s OK.' This simple endorsement was enough." (slightly adapted publisher's text, © Stanley/Barker, 2024)
Reception
"The images Chris KILLIP took of the fishermen between 1982 and 1984 helped seal his reputation as one of Britain’s greatest documentary photographers." (© The Times)