In 2009 I spent 10 days travelling through the West Bank in Palestine. It was an incredible, eye-opening experience and I was welcomed by warm, hospitable people, desperate to tell their story to the world. Stories of war, suffering and loss. It was heartbreaking and at the same time gave me hope. Palestine and its people were not all extremists, as I saw in the news, but ordinary people, who want peaceful lives, who want safety and food for their families and communities. My trip, and the pictures I took, were my small attempt to learn and grow myself, but also to show Palestinian culture, stimulate discussion and raise awareness of the Palestinian cause.

In November 2024, these pictures formed the backbone of an exhibition and series of workshops and events in Bath, by the title of Through The Cracks. The show and its related events raised over £8000 for the wonderful Amos Trust, a small humanitarian charity operating in Palestine. Through The Cracks was set up by a wonderful team of people and continues as a collective, working to fundraise, educate and build community around Palestinian solidarity. More information can be seen on their website www.throughthecracks.co.uk

THROUGH THE CRACKS

Panoramic view showing destroyed homes, separation wall and settlement in Palestine. The scene includes rubble and debris scattered across the ground, with a clear blue sky overhead.
Cracked glass with a bullet hole and a cityscape in the background, photographed in the West Bank, Palestine.
Young man in striped shirt standing in a dilapidated building with rubble and arched windows, photographed in the West Bank, Palestine.
Man standing near a fenced entrance and exit with signs in multiple languages, including Hebrew, Arabic, and English, indicating a humanitarian lane. The area is marked by graffiti and appears to be a border or checkpoint.
Colorful glass ornaments hanging in a shop display in Hebron, in the West Bank, Palestine..
Man at market stall with eggplants and cloths, wearing traditional hat, focused expression, photographed in the West Bank, Palestine.
Old stone building ruins with large archways and windows. Laundry hangs on a line across the courtyard. Bright blue sky in the background, photographed in the West Bank, Palestine..
Dense cityscape with sunlit buildings on a hillside, featuring residential and commercial architecture.
Interior of a historical building with stone columns and hanging lamps.
Desert landscape with a winding road and clear blue sky with clouds.
Old chair and table beside stacked boxes and a pile of soap bricks against a worn wall.
Sunset over a hilly cityscape with scattered buildings and rocky terrain in the foreground.
Cemetery with palm trees and Arabic-inscribed headstones.
A bustling city street scene with cars, pedestrians, and buildings. Some flags are displayed along the street, and people are gathered around a fountain. The area appears busy with activity.
Disused military grenade on rocky ground.
Graffiti of a flag on a concrete wall behind a pile of rocks.
View from inside a car of a street with yellow vehicles, a stone building, and a large watchtower in the background.
A weathered stone building with arched windows and doors, featuring iron bars and a small second-story balcony, in a Middle Eastern style.
Narrow alley with wire mesh overhead, stone buildings on sides, and an Israeli flag visible against a blue sky.
Barbed wire fence in front of a concrete wall on a dry landscape with a communication tower.
Black and white photo depicting women in hijabs walking past a wall with graffiti, including phrases like 'Berlin 1989,' 'Palestine,' 'Know Hope,' and 'Plant justice, harvest peace.'
Man walking by a graffiti-covered concrete wall near a deserted gas station.
Concrete wall with barbed wire on top, covered in colorful graffiti. Several potted plants are placed at the base of the wall.
Tattered poster of a young man holding a gun with Arabic text overlay on a rustic wall.
Desert landscape with road, trees, and distant buildings under a blue sky.
Three boys standing in a rocky, outdoor area, one holding a bicycle, with buildings in the background.
A man in a white uniform and cap stands in a workshop with large rotating drums used for candy or nut coating.
A young boy holding a small white and brown puppy.
Child walking on a dirt path near a tall concrete wall with graffiti, featuring a watchtower and rocky terrain photographed in the West Bank, Palestine.
Old wooden door with Arabic graffiti and bullet holes, secured with a padlock, showing signs of wear and damage.
Torn poster on textured wall depicting a partially visible face photographed in the West Bank, Palestine..
People resting on striped cushions in a room with stone walls and colorful decorations.
Aerial view of a cityscape during dusk with buildings and illuminated streets, surrounded by hilly terrain and a horizon with a gradient sky transitioning from purple to orange.
A gun-shaped rock formation partially buried in coarse, rocky soil.
View through a partially destroyed building with stone rubble and broken columns, overlooking a hilly landscape. A long elevated bridge and a border wall are visible in the distance, with residential buildings on the horizon under a clear blue sky.
Ancient amphitheater ruins in a hilly landscape with stone seating and scattered columns, surrounded by olive trees and distant mountains, photographed in the West Bank, Palestine.
Black and white photo of six smiling children standing close together near a doorway, looking at the camera.
A group of people performing on a dimly lit stage. A man in the foreground points towards the camera, while others are scattered in the background. Stage lights are visible, with one person handling a metal prop.
Group of performers lying on a dimly lit stage.
A woman performing CPR on a man lying on the ground.
A woman in a brown headscarf walks past a heavily damaged building with debris and exposed rebar against a clear blue sky.
Abandoned amusement park with old airplane and Ferris wheel under blue sky.
A young boy wearing a striped orange and white t-shirt and a dark cap stands under a tree with green leaves.
Black and white image of modern apartment buildings on a hill, surrounded by tiered, rocky terrain with sparse vegetation.
Monochrome aerial view of a densely populated urban area with flat-roofed buildings and water tanks on rooftops.
Photos of three men holding rifles, with two posing against curtains and one wearing a jacket and beanie.
Black and white photo of a blocked road with concrete barriers, flanked by power lines and rocky terrain.
Concrete wall with graffiti, including "David vs Goliath" text, various colorful markings, and a blurred urban background.
A man with curly hair and glasses stands outdoors in front of a building with a mural. He is wearing a black shirt and appears to be in a relaxed pose.
Concrete barrier on rocky terrain near residential buildings at sunrise or sunset.
Graffiti-covered concrete wall with colorful street art, a narrow road, and a distant view of a yellow taxi.
Panoramic image of a tall concrete wall with graffiti and a watchtower, alongside a dirt path with rocky terrain under a clear blue sky.
Panoramic view of densely built city with surrounding hills under a clear sky.
Panoramic photo of a concrete wall with graffiti and uneven terrain; sparse vegetation in the foreground and buildings in the distance under a clear blue sky.
Collage of a graffiti-covered concrete wall with barbed wire, adjacent to a rough area with trash and a building, under a clear sky. A person in a red shirt is walking along the road.
Concrete wall with colorful graffiti, including text and abstract shapes, under a blue sky with barbed wire on top.
Panoramic view of a city with a mountainous backdrop during sunset, showing densely packed buildings and a warm sky.