Publications and projects

In 2024, Katie was commissioned by Changing Our Lives to work on Front and Centre, to capture a series of portraits of people with a profound and multiple learning disability (PMLD).

Katie worked with families and care staff over several months to capture a sense of their loved ones with a PMLD. Using existing family photographs, she led reminiscence workshops centred around themes of individual identity and family life, and gave photography tutorials using disposable cameras to get family members and care staff thinking about portraiture and photography.

Conceived as a direct challenge to the absence of disability representation in mainstream art spaces—particularly the absence of people with a more profound learning disability, who are often invisible in society because of their care needs and underlying health conditions—the project culminated in a photo book and public showcase at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, which Katie designed and curated.

The showcase was opened in April 2025 by the celebrated photographer, Dr Vanley Burke, who is renowned for his ability to capture the essence of diverse communities and the richness of the human experience. The project was funded by the Inclusive Communities Fund.