I am Gill G Sinclair, a photographer born and based in Reading, UK.
The first 11 years of my life were spent living in a room with my family. Mum died when I was 7 and I was propelled into a life of care for an epileptic brother and, later, a dad with Parkinson’s. I spent months in a psychiatric hospital, then 5 years in a mental health rehabilitation unit.
Because of poor mental health, it took 24 years to gain a Level 3 Certificate in photography. I was banned from Reading College for taking course after course but I eventually enrolled on a photography course, in London. At university I volunteered as a photographer for Shelter Housing Charity, in their Pop-Up, at London Victoria Station and was commissioned as photographer, for their GROW Campaign, in October 2022. I exhibited at The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, in 2023, in their International Photography Exhibition in the Portrait, Environment, Identity, and Nature categories.
Recently, realising a 20-year-old dream to visit Tokyo, afforded me the opportunity to fully engage photographically, avoiding the intrusive anti-social behaviour I had been subjected to from a neighbour’s boyfriend, for over 3 years. I completed two bodies of work in Tokyo: ‘Inhale Exhale’ and ’Shibuya Crossing’. ‘Inhale Exhale’ is a zine and can be purchased at The Photographers’ Gallery, London and Parallax Photographic Coop, Brixton, London.
Photography is not only therapy, helping me cope with social anxiety and depression but my Zen-place. When my eye is scanning and framing, nothing else matters.
EXHIBITIONS
2022 Oblivious, HolyBrook Gallery, Reading, UK
2023 Portrait, International Photography Exhibition, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, UK
2023 Environment, International Photography Exhibition, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, UK
2023 Identity, International Photography Exhibition, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, UK
2023 Nature, International Photography Exhibition, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, UK
2024 Portraits, Blank Wall Gallery, Athens, Greece
COMPETITIONS
2024 Portraits, The Artist Gallery, Honorable Mention
2024 Plantera, Annual Photography Awards, Nature: Human Impact & Conservation, Honorable Mention
VOLUNTARY WORK
2020 Berkshire Women’s Aid, Reading, UK – Crèche,
2022 Reading Association for the Blind – Assisting Service Users
2022 Shelter – Photographer