A photographer has set himself a challenge to show the diversity of Ipswich – by taking shots of 1,000 people.

East Anglian Daily Times: Photographer Gavin King, who is working on a 1,000 Faces project in Ipswich, which involves photographing a mix of people in the town.Photographer Gavin King, who is working on a 1,000 Faces project in Ipswich, which involves photographing a mix of people in the town. (Image: Archant)

Gavin King plans to exhibit his 1,000 Faces work in the Town Hall early next year – but needs another 465 people to come forward so he can finish the project.

Gavin, 32, whose studio is based in Basepoint Business Centre said: “I was in bed when the idea came to me. I wanted to do something big, creative, challenging and worthwhile.

“Ipswich is a diverse town and I wanted to reflect that. This project is a study on diversity, but not just on culture and religion. It’s also about the way people dress, behave and feel.

“I have been giving people a white board so they can write down whatever they were feeling as a way to express themselves. Everybody who’s taken part so far has really got into it and just had fun.”

Paralympic Bronze winner Zoe Newson and Gary Avis, ballet master of the Royal Ballet London, are among the hundreds photographed by Gavin to date.

His youngest participant is four-month-old Kian Amini, with Ken Rivers as the oldest so far, aged 86.

Kerseys Solicitors in Lloyds Avenue are sponsoring the event and members of staff have also had their photo taken in a show of support.

“Kerseys have been a great support in helping get the project off the ground,” said Gavin. “They’ve not only sponsored it, but fully embraced it. It has enabled the solicitors to show off their fun side.”

Gavin, a former electro-mechanical engineer. has photographed a range of ages and nationalities for the project, including people with various disabilities.

The photographer, who went to Gusford Primary School and Chantry High School, said: “We sometimes make judgements about people, such as because of the way they look. I want to help remove the stigma many of us may have about these differences.

“I want this project to show though we’re all individuals, we all have something in common. We all have hopes, fears and a need to express ourselves.”

For Gavin, who studied at Saxon Engineering Suffolk College, photography has been a lifelong passion.

But he took the leap to make it his career three years ago after he was made redundant from an engineering job. He has since set up his own studio and has not looked back.

Anthony Wooding, managing partner at Kerseys, said: “Gavin’s Project appealed to me immediately because it tied in so well with our values - our tradition of involvement in the community in general and our support for the arts in particular.

“I knew many of our staff would want to get involved and this proved to be the case.

“I don’t usually like having my photo taken, but this was pretty relaxed. The use of the white boards gave us a chance to express ourselves – and have a bit of a laugh.”

To find out more about the 1,000 Faces project and how to get involved, visit http://www.gavinkingphotography.co.uk/ or call 07795 025123.

Alternatively, you can email gavin@gavinkingphotography.co.uk or visit Gavin King Photography on Facebook.