THE CITYIST

THE BUZZ

WRITING FOR CHILDREN

Bath Spa University graduate and Kim Donovan has set up a new short fiction competition called Searchlight Writing for Children Awards. Her aim is create opportunities for authors of children’s fiction. There will be three categories: Best Bedtime Story, Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults and Best Short Story for Children or Young Adults, with competitions staggered throughout the year. Submissions for the Best Bedtime Story are open until 16 August. Finbar Hawkins, children’s author and Creative Director at Aardman Animations (also a Bath Spa graduate) will judge the first competition. The ten shortlisted stories in each category will feature in an electronic pitch book called The Winners’ Collection and be sent to numerous literary agents and publishers who have requested it. These stories will also be published in an annual printed anthology and the first prize includes a cash award. searchlightawards.co.uk

GEORGIAN WATERING-HOLE

In the closing years of the 18thcentury, Weston was a select watering-place attracting the fashionable elite from the highest social circles including many visitors from Bath. Visitors were prolific correspondents and diarists and the book Weston-superMare: Georgian Watering-Place, Regency Resort by Sharon Poole has provided us with a vivid, intimate picture of Weston-super-Mare as it emerged from obscurity into a popular beach resort. With contemporary accounts from journals, letters, newspapers and guide books, discover tales of intrigue, scandal and highway robbery; Weston’s links to the transatlantic slave trade; and the real rags-to-riches life story of an abandoned child. £17.99, paperback.

My BATH

Bath-based photographer Jess Cheetham has been chosen by the New York Times to represent the city in an inaugural Virtual Documentary Family Photography Exhibit. Here, Jess tells us about her life, work and love for Bath

What’s your connection to Bath?

I grew up here! After years of studying in Edinburgh and the US and then working in London, I decided I wanted to settle down in my hometown. I adore Bath; it's small enough that you can almost walk everywhere but big enough to have lots of things going on and things to do. It has a real community feel to it which I love. And I love the range of shops and restaurants it offers.

What’s your favourite place to visit in Bath?

I live in Bathampton so I love walking or cycling along the canal into town and stopping by the Holburne Museum for a coffee and a stroll through Sydney Gardens. The walks surrounding Bath like the Bath Skyline are just incredible. I love the American Museum –it’s a great place to take the kids and our favourite park is Alice Park, such a great park for children.

What has been your career path up until now?

I used to work in the art world in London. I started in an auction house and then moved on to a private gallery. I was always drawn to photography within the spheres of selling art and a highlight from gallery life was curating an exhibition called With A Conscious Eye which was specifically about documentary photography. A genre I am passionate about and have chosen for my family photography work.

Can you talk a little about the Virtual Documentary Family Photography Exhibit?

This inaugural virtual exhibition is from the Documentary Family Photographer’s organisation. It is 50 images, from 44 photographers all over the globe, chosen and curated by New York Times’ photo editor Tiffanie Graham. The exhibit aims to elevate documentary family photography into the realms of fine art and has been huge in its dissemination of these everyday images of family life to the public and raising awareness of this incredible genre of photography. You can take a virtual walk around the exhibition, view the list of artists and and images and the judge’s statement by visiting: dfp-gallery.com

How does it feel to be representing Bath?

I feel incredibly proud to be representing Bath in the exhibition. I’m also excited to see this genre of family photography becoming more popular in the UK, having been mainly predominant in the US.

What do you love the most about this genre?

I love its realness and rawness. With documentary, it is just that. I just capture or ‘document’ what I see, I don’t pose my clients or tell them look at the camera and smile. It’s just you, living your everyday life. The images you end up with are beautiful and striking and authentic.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I know this sounds a bit clichéd but honestly I find a lot of my inspiration from my own family, specifically my children. I look up to a number of artists and fellow photography colleagues. And my old art school tutors were hugely inspiring and influential.

Who deserves a shout out at the moment?

The Bath charity 3SG, who are doing amazing work during the pandemic.

“My alarm goes off and I...”

Wake up next to my baby, who is my alarm clock! My days at the moment with two young children completely revolve around them of course. So it’s lots of meal-making, snack-making, tidying up, playing, trips to the park and school runs. I am very happy and content at the moment with our chaotic life with a four year old and a one year old.

What are you reading/watching/listening to?

I am just about to read Eliane Glaser Motherhood: A Manifesto. I love listening to podcasts, my favourite being Motherkind. And TV –I of course love a good documentary.

What is your philosophy in life?

Be kind to people. And try and live a life you believe in. ■