RURAL IDENTITY
Words by Evie Colman & Photography by Poppy Wilkins
RAILED connected with Point of View (P.O.V.), a Herefordshire-based creative programme empowering rural young people to share their lived experiences, needs and ambitions in ways that promote change, inform local policy, and challenge injustice. Two of its young creatives joined RAILED Magazine for a photoshoot in our hometown, Hereford. Poppy, behind the camera, and Iona, in front of it.
For this RAILED x P.O.V. collaboration, Poppy turned her lens towards someone she knows instinctively: her sister, Iona. Together they created a series of portraits that tell a story built between them as an exploration of anonymity, and the tension between standing out and being seen in both rural and urban environments.
For Poppy, photography has always been about paying close attention. “Since I can remember, I have always loved noticing and taking photos of what’s around me, whether it’s tiny details like the pattern of a leaf, a dragonfly by the river.”
Through being a part of P.O.V., Poppy has been able to explore and expand her talent. This has included mentorship from professional photographer, Billie Charity, under whose guidance Poppy began the shift from observing nature to engaging with people. Choosing Iona for this series of portraits wasn’t out of convenience; it was intentional. “I wanted to have someone to whom the locations we chose had meaning. Iona is also very creative and makes incredible masks. We decided Iona wearing her masks would be a unique subject for a shoot,” Poppy explains.
Iona wasn’t just a model in these portraits; she wore the masks she made herself, inspired by a love of animals and created with hours of care and imagination. Mask-making had been something Iona did alongside a close friend, who took her life a year ago. After Iona experienced this loss, she stopped making the masks. This story of portraits became a way of reconnecting. “The photography was a nice way of easing back into them,” Iona reflects, “and remembering her.”
Wearing a mask meant that Iona could be expressive on her own terms, “Most of the time I feel comfortable in masks because I don’t have to worry about the way I look. I just hide behind them.” Without her face on show, she felt there were fewer expectations.
However, that same anonymity drew attention when romping around town, says Iona. In public, Poppy and Iona were met with stares and confusion, reinforcing the sense that Hereford can be unwelcoming to creative expression. Undeterred, they kept going; experimenting with poses, light, and space, pushing past the self-consciousness that could have easily taken over. What might have felt awkward became playful and funny. “No one likes having their sister boss them around,” Iona joked. There was an underlying warmth in this process. An ease that allowed the photography to feel intimate and unguarded, just like sisters do.
Herefordshire isn’t often seen as a hub for young creative people. “I think in rural areas, free creative opportunities for teenagers can often be limited,” says Poppy. But through P.O.V., both Poppy and Iona have been given the chance to challenge that reality, showing what rural creativity can look like when it’s supported. “I feel so lucky to have been involved in the amazing P.O.V. project,” Poppy explains. “We’ve had creative workshops across Herefordshire, been on trips, and made responses. The workshops with Billie Charity have been a highlight for me. As well as improving my photography skills, I’ve had the opportunity to exhibit my work, build confidence, and take part in this shoot.”
P.O.V. is a space for young people to be heard and celebrated through creative opportunities, mentorship and community. In rural areas, the lack of access to these kinds of spaces can be hugely isolating. Rural youth deserve to be heard, seen and supported.
It was a pleasure to be in the presence of such incredible young talent.
With big thanks to Poppy Wilkins, Iona Wilkins, Toni Cook, Billie Charity.
