An exhibition at SHOP Preston will showcase grassroots skateboarding communities from across the North of England.

Juliet Klottrup’s exhibition, Skate Like a Lass, will feature her own photography alongside images shot by local skaters.

Since graduating from Illustration at the University of Brighton in 2016, Juliet has been working as a freelance photographer and filmmaker, self-funding creative personal projects and immersing herself in local communities.

Speaking to Blog Preston, Juliet said: “I focus on social and environmental stories through portraiture and still life.

“By collaborating with local communities, I create a raw, modern archive of identity and belonging, blending still and motion imagery on analogue mediums.”

One of Juliet’s recent projects – a short documentary film called Travelling Home – was selected to screen at four BAFTA qualifying festivals. The film follows a retired fairer and Romany Gypsy traveller making his way to Appleby Fair, and is a part of a wider five-year photographic project.

The Skate Like a Lass exhibition seeks to capture the essence of another community, that of grassroots skateboarding in the North of England – including in Preston.

“The project aims to bridge the gap in skateboarding’s historical documentation,” said Juliet.

“From the Lake District mountains to Blackpool promenade, these collectives have built safe, empowering spaces where skating fosters freedom and celebrates failure as growth. By sharing cameras with collectives, the project encourages self-shot archives of their experiences.”

Juliet continued: “I have been so inspired by this skating community; from them I have learnt about resilience, survival, kinship, trust and bravery.”

Artistically, Juliet drew inspiration for the Skate Like a Lass project from North American photographer Wendy Ewald, who is celebrated for empowering young people to use photography as a tool for self-expression.

“I think it’s important to share your craft as a socially engaged tool and collaborative medium,” said Juliet.

Asked about the local skateboarding scene, Juliet said: “The Preston scene is full of talent and a hugely supportive community.

“The collective Empress Skateboarding features in this project, with photos from their community skate jams at The Warehouse Skatepark in Leyland. Check them out on Instagram @empressskateboardingcic and @warehouseskateparkcic.”

Read more: Shawn Sharpe: Transforming Preston’s cultural scene and inspiring the next generation

Juliet’s vision for the future involves a commitment to storytelling through visual art.

“I hope to continue capturing the untold stories and voices of inspiring individuals and communities, both within the region and beyond, through photography and film.”

Skate Like a Lass is on at SHOP Preston at 3 Syke Street in the city centre:

• Thursday 27 February, 6.30pm to 8pm
• Friday 28 February, 1pm to 4pm
• Saturday 1 March, 12pm to 3pm
• Sunday 2 March, 12pm to 3pm

The exhibition then moves to Aunty Social in Blackpool, from Thursday 20 to Tuesday 25 March.

You can watch the Skate Like a Lass short film trailer on Vimeo. Find out more about Juliet’s work on the Juliet Klottrup website, or on Instagram @julietklottrup.

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This story was made possible by you, our readers, and a host of organisations in the city, through our Crowdfund Lancashire appeal, which unlocked support from the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund provided by Lancashire County Council. You can see all our coverage and, if you know of an arts project or event in the city we should be covering, you can submit it for our event listings and/or send details to contactus@blogpreston.co.uk for us to cover it as a story on the Blog.