‘Keep Clear’ is a series of photographs by me, Mark Peachey, a St Helens-based photographer. In early 2020 I caught Covid-19. I have severe asthma and the effect of Covid on my health has been substantial. I had to shield at home as a Clinically Extremely Vulnerable person. I became very ill. To help me cope with my experiences I began to photograph my life at home shielding, and later on my experiences of slowly re-entering the world around me.
As society opened up and restrictions were lifted, the political mantra became one of ‘Living with Covid.’ I feel that a gap has opened up between many CEV people who are still wary of going out and mixing with other people, and non-CEV people who may not have these concerns. After nearly three years I still struggle with the after-effects of Covid. This, in my experience, is “Living with Covid.” The virus remains an elevated threat to people with disabilities. For me and many people like me, the need to Keep Clear could become a way of life.
Please click on the menu on the left for the images. There is also an audio description underneath each image. For some images I have recorded excerpts from a diary I kept at the time.
These images and a book with additional photographs were exhibited at St Helens Library from November 7th to December 2nd 2022 as part of Dada International 2022, a disability arts programme designed to inspire, develop and celebrate talent in disability and Deaf arts. The exhibition went on to tour libraries in the Liverpool City Region. The image “Rehab” won Commended at the 2023 LCR Photography Awards at Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool.
'Keep Clear' was commissioned by Cultural Hubs, delivered by and through St Helens Borough Council Library Service.
With thanks to:
Audio Descriptions: Emma Peachey
Consultant: Michael Hurst
