Reportage Illustration.

With the brief of reportage for my second term of the second year of my Illustration course, I decided to contact Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service to ask if I could produce a visual account of the stories, events and people within the Service through direct observation, experience and research. I wanted to uncover the untold stories, reveal the unknown and dig deeper than the stereotypical presumptions of buff men in red trucks whizzing around putting out fires.

Through interviews, meetings and shadowing the service at events, I collected first hand information through experience; I created a body of work, which was supported by this research. I attended events such as the LGBT history month launch, school visits and home fire safety checks for the elderly and more vulnerable members of society, as well as witnessing first-hand the Fire Service crew perform their fire drills, to learn more about the NFRS. Initial eye witness sketches, notes and photographs I had taken, I later explored and represented my findings using different mediums such as mono print, stitch, collage, watercolour, ink and pen to create my documentary illustrations.

Once I had competed this body of work and presented it to the Fire Service, I was invited to attend a press meeting, which involved me being interview for an article for the Norwich Evening Newspaper. It was an honour to have my work displayed publicly and a very positive experience meeting the press in relation to my artwork.

 The work I produced can be viewed on the Norfolk Fire Service website here!