Bristol Portrait of Britain winner showcases diversity

A Portrait of Britain winner has said photography has provided a "holistic outlet" to living with a rare genetic condition.

Cíara Hillyer, 31, from Bristol, was selected as one of 100 winners for the prestigious photography competition.

She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just five days old and finds it "therapeutic" to document her journey.

Ms Hillyer said she felt "honoured" to be recognised alongside other talented photographers in the Vol. 6 photobook.

The Portrait of Britain Awards are an annual celebration of British identity, offering photographers the chance to showcase diversity and representation.

Ms Hillyer's winning submission showed Wolverhampton boys Isaac and Nima intricately trying to fix a Bluetooth speaker following a football match.

"I had gone to support a friend of mine, who has dwarfism, playing football and he introduced me to his friends," she said.

"As soon as I took it, I felt a wave of excitement because I knew it was a great image."

Ms Hillyer says the title of her submission, 'Making it Work', served as a double meaning to reflect what it is like to live with a genetic condition.

"It just became a bigger representation of their community, of them making it work for themselves day to day," she said.

Ms Hillyer discovered her passion for creativity at an early age and said it provided a welcome distraction during her many visits to Bristol Children's Hospital.

Her final project at UWE Bristol, titled 'Breathing Space', provided an insight into life with cystic fibrosis by documenting idle moments during hospital visits as she received treatment for the respiratory condition.

"It also reflects a lot of other people's stories, people who know what it's like to split your time between home and the hospital," she said.

"[Photography] is definitely an outlet, a holistic approach to my health condition and my mindset."

Ms Hillyer said her recent win had provided the "boost" she needed to pursue a professional career in the subject, hoping to provide a platform for more "underrepresented stories".

"I've photographed a lot in terms of disability and ill-health over the years, and I feel like I could tell someone's story," she said.

"Photography has done that for me for such a long time and it would be nice to do that for someone else.

"It's photographing what I know, so it's quite therapeutic in that sense."

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