I’m a photographer, writer and researcher based in Manchester.

I am interested in socio-political issues such as migration, housing, representation and belonging. I love learning about people and finding collaborative ways to tell their stories.

Between 2011 and 2015 I worked with Roma families to tell visual stories about their new lives in the UK. I’ve also made independent work with members of the UK’s Traveller communities.

In 2022-23, I worked with Traveller women on a commissioned project with Open Eye Gallery, looking at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their lives.

In 2024-25, I spent 15 months working with women from SWAP, an asylum seeker support group in Wigan, on a project commissioned by Open Eye Hub. During this time we made a huge banner together.

I have also run numerous shorter workshop projects with young people – including young carers, cared-for children and within special education settings. I worked as an associate lecturer in photography at Manchester Metropolitan University from 2021-25. I worked as a creative producer for Open Eye Gallery in 2025-26.

I have an MA in photojournalism and documentary photography from London College of Communication, plus qualifications in teaching and journalism (I was a print journalist for more than 15 years). I am part of Post Photo Collective.

I am now a part-time PhD student at Birmingham City University, in partnership with Open Eye Gallery and funded by Midlands 4 Cities.

Get in touch by email:  info@ciaraleeming.co.uk

  • 2026 Care and Defiance with POST Photography Collective, Centrala, Birmingham.

    2024 Amoeba, Pink, Stockport.

    2024 This Must Be The Place, Open Eye Hub, Leigh

    2024 Levy Lockdown Portraits, Dark Peak Photography Festival, Glossop

    2024 Manchester Open, HOME

    2023 Got Through It, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool

    2023 Got Through It, Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Chester

    2023 Picturing High Streets Chester, Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Chester

    2022 Local/Lokal, Astley Cheetham Gallery, Stalybridge

    2022 Manchester Open, HOME

    2022 A Portrait of Levenshulme, Levenshulme Old Library, Manchester

    2022 Invisible Britain- This Separated Isle, at Impressions Gallery, Ffotogallery and Streetlevel Photoworks

    2022 Streets Apart, shop window exhibition on King Street, Wigan

    2020 Levy Lockdown Portraits, Levenshulme Old Library, Manchester

    2015 Turn Sideways in the Wind, Salford Art Gallery

    2013 Stay Where There Are Songs, Side Gallery, Newcastle

    2011 Hightown, Oriel Wrecsam, Wrexham

    2011 Transition, Look 11 photography festival, Liverpool

  • 2026 Create Arts three-day workshop with Rochdale Cared-For Children service.

    2026 Create Arts three-day workshop project with Bolton Young Carers.

    2026 Create Arts five-day workshop with young people at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust

    2025 Create Arts three-day workshop project with Bolton Young Carers

    2025 Create Arts three-day workshop project with Cheshire Young Carers

    2025 Create Arts three-day workshop project with Bury Young Carers

    2024-2025 Open Eye Hub residency working with asylum seeker support charity, SWAP

    2023 Bolton At Home ‘Art of the Possible’ with Back Up

    2023 A New Exchange - workshops at Bridge College/Together Trust, Manchester

    2022 Reflections commission to work with Traveller community, Open Eye Gallery and Cheshire West and Chester Council

    2022 Local/Lokal commission, Stalybridge

    2022 Levenshulme Market artist residency with Laura Deane

    2022 Streets Apart commission - worked with The Brick homeless charity, Wigan

    2022 The Making of Us residency at Ashcroft School/Together Trust, Manchester

    2022 Picturing High Streets residency with Cafe 71, commissioned by Open Eye Gallery and Historic England

    2021 Open Eye Gallery R&D micro-commission. Funded litter pickers project

    2020 InterMEDS commission from Peshkar, funded Levy Lockdown Project

    2014 Salford University commission to mentor young Roma people and make Love V Style newspaper

    2012 Homelands commission, Amber Collective/Side Gallery

    2012 Roma Source commission to run workshops at Harehills Primary School

    2011 Oriel Wrecsam commission to work in Hightown

    2010 Redeye Lightbox participant