After Dark explores the nightlife of Nelson, Lancashire, through stories, photographs, and voice recordings gathered as part of a commission with This-Is-Nelson and In-Situ.
I am a documentary photographer/multidisciplinary artist based in Brierfield, Lancashire. My work explores memory, heritage, and the changing character of northern communities. Through photography, I document people and places that hold stories of working-class life, often focusing on what remains and what has been lost over time.
What excites me about this project is the chance to reconnect with the places that shaped my own youth while discovering the stories of others who shared that same vibrant nightlife. I’m inspired by the idea of breathing new life into forgotten spaces, capturing their atmosphere, their history, and the memories that still linger. I love the mix of photography, research, and conversation, and I’m excited to create a body of work that feels both personal and collective. Most of all, I’m energised by the opportunity to document a part of Nelson that meant so much to so many, and to celebrate it before it slips away completely.
Once the mills fell silent and daylight faded, another side of Nelson came alive. Pubs spilled onto the streets, clubs pulsed with music, working men’s clubs were packed, and taxi ranks filled with people heading home in the early hours. For many, these places were more than venues; they were where friendships were made, romances began, and unforgettable nights unfolded.
This project documents those memories while exploring how nightlife in Nelson has changed over the decades, particularly the sharp decline that began in the early 1990s. Through personal stories, archived memories, photographs, and recorded voices, After Dark asks what happened to the town’s once-thriving night-time culture and what has been lost along the way.
From neon-lit dance floors to quiet streets where venues once stood, this is a portrait of a town after dark, told by the people who lived it.
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