The Northern School of Art photography graduate and MA student Debbie Todd has been adding to the impressive collection of awards for her stunning images focused on ‘The meaning of being different’ over the past few months, which now includes an international accolade.

At the beginning of the year Debbie’s work was selected as the Judges’ Choice in the Ann Lesley BarTur Student Award 2022, which recognises ‘pioneering and contemporary women behind the lens’ as part of the prestigious BarTur Photo Award that celebrates photographers who challenge how we view the world.

Over the next year Debbie’s work will be featured as part several exhibitions being staged by the award organisers. The first exhibition was staged in the f³ – freiraum für fotografie gallery in Berlin in February and Debbie was invited to deliver a talk ahead of its opening.

Debbie said: “I was thrilled to hear about winning the Judges’ Choice Award. After years of studying, it was an amazing feeling being selected and makes all of the hard work and effort worthwhile.”

We caught up with Debbie to find out more.

• Why did you enter the awards?

I entered the awards as I know the award is focused on celebrating artists who work within areas such as climate change and have social inequalities.

• What shots did you submit and why did you choose them?

I selected ten images from a series. I selected the images that I thought were the most ‘fine art’ style so they would work well together.

• What was your reaction when you heard you’d won?

I was gobsmacked to find out I had won, especially when I saw the other winners who are working in war torn countries and creating very inspiring work about the world around us that we wouldn’t get to see without these artists.

• What impact will it have on your work?

I’m hoping my work will be seen by more people and will promote diversity and help reduce stereotyping. I hope other artists are inspired to use a more diverse range of subjects to promote inclusion.

• How was the experience of attending and speaking?

Being able to attend the awards was amazing. The best part was seeing all of the work and speaking to other people about the work on show. I was nervous when talking as there were more people there than I had spoken too before.

• What’s next for you?

I currently have a book of the images from this series on the way to FORMAT photo festival in Derby for ‘the performing Photobook’ exhibit during the festival.

My newest work, a Caravaggio-inspired portrait printed onto velvet, has also been awarded ‘Highly Commended’ after being selected for the Royal Birmingham Society of Artist’s Photography Prize Exhibition and is on show at the central Birmingham gallery until 8 April 2023.

I am also continuing my MA and hoping to spend the next few months creating new bodies of work around marginalised people and social issues.

See more of Debbie’s work on her website at www.debbietodd.co.uk and follow her on Instagram @debbietodd and TikTok @debbietoddphotographer

Further information about The Northern School of Art’s creative degree and postgraduate courses is available here