With their Remarkable Characters of Tunbridge Wells display, photographer Mark Wilkinson and writer Anne Wagstaff have painted a portrait of the town through images and words. We chat to the creators about how they brought local people’s stories to life in support of children’s charity Fegans
Tell us about the idea behind your exhibition
We started with a boot fair find for the initial inspiration. The cover of a 1966 Sunday Times magazine showed two people looking out of a red telephone box with the title ‘Portrait of a Village’. The article explores the village and villagers – it’s notable just how much the commonplace of 1966 has changed, and easy to let the minutiae, smaller stories slip through our fingers, unrecorded.
In 2016, we came across an etching showing ‘The Remarkable Characters’ of Tunbridge Wells in 1748. This drawing of The Pantiles includes Dr Johnson, Mr Pitt (Earl of Chatham), Loggan the artist, and the renowned Miss Chudleigh, among others.
Together, these inspired us to consider undertaking a project looking at the current residents of Tunbridge Wells.
How did you decide which characters to feature in your 40 individual portraits?
We didn’t set out with a list of people we had to have, but allowed the names to emerge through discussion, a thorough reading of the local press, and a trawl of the internet, often using #tunbridgewells to deepen the search. We approached people who we felt had a story to tell; some are of national importance, while others are quieter and more personal.
In what ways will the project benefit the work of Fegans?
Fegans is a charity based in Tunbridge Wells, which mattered, and the work they do felt important to both of us. They care holistically for whole families, through counselling children and supporting parents. We’ve been fortunate enough to meet some people who have experienced the benefits of�their work, and have seen just how effective and necessary that work is.
All of the profits from sales of the book accompanying the exhibition, as well as ticket sales for our Remarkable Raffle, will go directly to support their work. It’s also a way of raising awareness of their services to those who may benefit.
Do you think the exhibition will challenge people’s preconceptions of the town and those who live there?
Tunbridge Wells is easy to caricature; a ‘disgusted’ retired colonel wandering the red brick pavements; a Prosecco and laughter-filled lunch; a tired commuter making their way up one of the many hills to a fearsomely expensive house, 2.4 children and Rolo the Labrador. But behind the quick assumptions are real people with real stories, and a texture to the town that’s rich and multi-layered.
We’ve attempted to paint a portrait of the town through images and words. As with all portraits, the portrayal is in the eye of the artist, and we’ve captured the mood, likeness and personality that we see.
What do you hope visitors will take away from their experience once they’ve been?
This project has taught us just how rich other people’s lives are. We came across a word towards the end of the project that summed up our thoughts beautifully – ‘sonder’, which is the realisation that each random passer-by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.
If each person who visits the exhibition, or reads the book, takes away the thought that other people’s lives are as complex and vivid as their own, and takes the time to ask questions of others and listen to their replies, we’d be delighted. We really are all remarkable.
Remarkable Characters of Tunbridge Wells runs from Friday March 16 to Sunday September 9 at Woods Restaurant in The Pantiles. To find out more, visit www.remarkablecharacterstw.com
