Back in early autumn, we hosted something that turned out to be way more powerful than we imagined — our first ever ILNS Photowalk One.
What started as a simple idea — a group walk with cameras to explore our town through local eyes — evolved into one of our most uplifting and creative community projects yet.
A Walk That Sparked a Movement
The idea was simple: invite people from all walks of life to slow down, notice the details, and capture what makes North Shields special. Around 30 photographers came along — from seasoned professionals to total beginners — and the energy was unreal.
The walk wasn’t just about photography. It was about belonging — and showing how creativity thrives when it’s rooted in community.
Meet the Collective Driving the Project
This isn’t a solo show. The project is powered by a tight-knit collective of local creatives:
- Rachel Riley — a landscape & portrait photographer based in the North East, focused on capturing natural light, atmosphere and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Rachel Riley Photography
- David Hall (aka Nostalgia Kid) — a documentary and street photographer whose work documents North East culture, identity and everyday magic.
- Gary Ormston — local photographer with a deep connection to North Shields, specialising in street scenes, natural light and creative viewpoints around the Fish Quay. Gary Ormston
These three pulled together the walk, encouraged others to join, and helped turn raw photographs into something for the walls. Collaboration for the win.
From the Streets to the Gallery Walls
Then came the moment that really brought it all to life. Thanks to support from the North Shields 800 Community Grants Scheme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we received £1,000 to turn the work from Photowalk into a full exhibition.
The amazing team at Globe Gallery on Bedford Street offered their space for a pop-up gallery, transforming the idea into something tangible.
The show opened on 24 September 2025, and it was pure magic. The walls were filled with images taken by local photographers — the rust of old ropes, the mist over the Tyne, portraits of the people who make this place what it is.
For us, it was more than an exhibition — it was proof of what happens when community creativity is given a platform.
Read the full press release here:
👉 Press Release: From Photowalk to Gallery Walls – I Love North Shields Hosts Debut Exhibition
Tag used for socials: ILNSphotowalkone
Why This Project Mattered
- It proved that grassroots ideas can grow into major cultural moments.
- It connected photographers, residents, and venues in a shared celebration of North Shields.
- And it reminded everyone that creativity doesn’t need permission — just passion.
Reflection: By Photographer Chris Charlton @chrisjcharlton90
(Originally featured in our magazine, shared here in full as part of the Photowalk One archive.)
Since I retired from teaching 5 years ago, I’ve morphed into a wandering photographer, focussing on anything weird, abstract or unusual. I realise, as the years pass, that I’m trying to take photographs that don’t look like photographs! I’m a frustrated artist at heart. Being born and bred in North Shields it’s natural to photograph your local turf as it’s what you have the strongest feelings for and opinions about.
I tend to be a lone operator as a photographer but always hankered after meeting with fellow photo addicts – so joining in with the ILNS photo walk seemed ideal as it pushed me out of my comfort zone. It turned out to be well worth it. No matter how many times you might have photographed a place it’s never the same due to the time of year/day and varying light conditions, so I approached the walk with an open mind. I was also sure that we would all be inspired to take very different images even though we were all walking the same route. Personally, I’m always attracted to small details rather than grand vistas and I use a 120mm telephoto lens which forces me to crop in tightly to a scene and concentrate on the minutia.
Typically, the sea fret started to roll in as we set off, but I actually preferred that rather than harsh summer sunlight as it gives a pastel effect, muting colours and softening shadows. I first noticed the piles of old fishing nets and tackle along the quayside and decided to make a set of images focussing in on the patina of the old ropes, floats and rusting pieces of metal. After years of use the rope colours had subtly faded and the nets looked worn and clearly showed that they had had a life. A pot of paint which looked like it had been refilled with different colours a hundred times caught my eye and I wondered how many fishing boats had benefited from a quick touch up over the years? It was good to chat to people as we strolled on and put faces to Instagram handles that I had followed for years. Everyone looked totally absorbed! It wasn’t competitive, it was collaborative, and I began to think that the collection of images we were creating might make something cohesive and worthy. I noticed that the women in the group were far better at approaching people to ask if they could take their photographs and I took full advantage of their confidence by sneaking in over their shoulders with my long lens to make some ‘salty sea dog’ portraits. It’s called cheating!
Taking the images is only half of the joy of photography and processing them afterwards on my Mac is always where I finally see what I was trying to achieve in the moment. I often put images together either in multiple exposures or as a series of 2, 3 or more images to tell the whole story. I was totally inspired by the walk, and I hope that there may be more in the future. In this way we can build up a photographic record of the town in what is its 800th year.
What’s Next
Photowalk One showed us what’s possible when a community gets behind an idea. It’s inspired a series of future walks, exhibitions, and collaborations across North Shields — and we’re just getting started. We will be hosting many more!
Each event adds to a growing visual record of Shields, told through local eyes, hearts, and lenses.
Thank you to everyone who joined, shared, exhibited, and supported this project. You’ve helped us prove what we’ve always believed: creativity belongs to everyone.
📸 All images are copyright of the photographers. Please contact them directly for usage or licensing enquiries.
View Gallery
Photos submitted by
Adam Lang @lang_shot_photography
Chris Charlton @chrisjcharlton90
Christian Kitson @c_kitson_
Craig Cowan @c.cowan.photos
Dan Wright @d28px
Dave Hall @nostalgia_kid
Diane Wailes @northshields_people
Gary Ormston Gpo_visuals
Laura Thompson Laurathompson_photography
Liam Mcnaughton @l88xmc
Rachel Riley @rachel_riley_photography
Shannon Clarke @shannonclarke.photography
