Ruth: “In the 1980s, my hometown of Merseyside was often portrayed in relation to its economic deprivation. The Toxteth riots occurred in 1981, and Liverpool and its surrounding areas suffered greatly from high unemployment from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

“At 16, this was my first attempt as a photographer, having never had the opportunity to hold a camera. I wanted to showcase the warm-hearted, strong, and proud people I loved. In my naïve way, I shot as close to the people as I could get, drawing the focus away from the deprived environment, allowing the people themselves to shine.”