Every so often a commission takes me away from the quiet rhythms of Arran and into something altogether different. This weekend was one of those moments. I travelled to Durham after being commissioned by Jack Drum Arts to photograph their contribution to Durham Pride, and the city greeted me with a burst of colour and sound that could not have been further from the soft island light I am used to.
There was a bittersweet edge to the day. While I was grateful for the chance to document such a vibrant celebration, I was also sad to miss Arran Pride taking place at the same time. It would have been wonderful to photograph both, but sometimes the calendar has its own ideas.
Durham itself was alive with rainbows, music and movement. Pride brings a certain magic to the cobbled streets and cathedral green, and this year the energy felt especially vivid. Everywhere I turned there was rhythm and laughter, sequins catching the sunlight, and faces painted in every hue imaginable.
Jack Drum Arts Disco Samba Bloco brought their unmistakable energy to the celebration. The sound of drums echoed through the city, pulsing like a heartbeat beneath the cathedral towers. Their rhythm carried through the parade and into the afternoon performances, drawing people in with irresistible joy.
I spent the day with the group, from the quiet concentration of face painting in the morning, where rainbow colours bloomed across foreheads and cheeks, to the full throttle performances later on stage. The transformation was beautiful. Artists becoming part of the spectacle, each brushstroke and beat adding to the collective story of Pride.
There was a moment when the sunlight hit the sequinned tunics just right, a shimmer of every colour at once, and it felt as though the whole day had gathered itself into that single flash of brilliance. Behind the drums, faces glowed with pride and purpose. Behind the fan that read Whatever, a performer smiled with the kind of confidence that defines the day.
Durham Pride is more than a parade. It is a celebration of identity, creativity and community. It is a reminder that art and activism often share the same rhythm. Jack Drum Arts embody that beautifully. Their Disco Samba Bloco project is not just about performance, it is about connection, bringing people together through music, movement and shared joy.
As the drums faded and the crowd began to drift away, the colours lingered in the air and in memory. Pride days are fleeting, but their spirit lasts long after the last beat has fallen silent.
And now, as I make my way back to the island, I find myself looking forward to the quieter light of Arran once again, carrying the colour and rhythm of Durham with me.
