Joy, joining together and giant veg: highlights from the Portrait of Britain prize

“Quite possibly the most gangster granny to ever live.”

Gwendoline, Glasgow, by Carla Marcia Girvan

“A morning hailstorm turned into sunshine and gifted me with one of the most memorable projects I have ever shot. Gwen wears my favourite African hairstyle, Koroba braids, wrapped with a pink boa made from fabric scraps.”

“Gather the Bones is a series of portraits about how women heal when they connect to nature. We used a Bronze Age landscape [historical site]. Some women had experienced trauma and others, like Ruby, simply identified with the idea that we need to connect to animals and a sense of place to feel whole. Ruby said: ‘When you find your horse, you find yourself.’ The work is about my childhood sexual abuse and the participants enacted parts of my story.”

Peter and his Giant Onion, Malvern, Worcestershire, by Jack Kenyon

“Peter Glazebrook holds his prize-winning giant onion at Malvern Autumn Show.”

Steppers Women of Colour Walking Football Club, London, by James Cannon

“Steppers Women of Colour Walking Football Club epitomises what sport is all about: community. The team, who range in age from 42 to over 60, have created a supportive community space outside of the football pitch, putting on social activities, tours, events, support groups and more in north London. They’re proud to play the game they love at their age, embracing all the positives, and encourage others to join.”

Alasdair Thorburn, South Ronaldsay Ploughing Match, South Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands, by Euan Myles

“The South Ronaldsay Ploughing Match is a unique competition held at the highest tide every August in Orkney and is believed to date back to the 1800s. In the competition, each furrow must be identical to its neighbour. Within a four to five feet square patch, boys must plough straight and even furrows over the whole area. The judges look for the best start, which includes how the boys set the ‘dreels’, and the neatest ending of their work, as well as the overall ploughing. No help is allowed when ploughing. The fathers, grandfathers and uncles can only stand back and watch and hope their painstaking tuition has paid off.

“In the early days the ploughing was done in a Hope Kailyard. These days the activity has moved to the beach at Sands O’ Wright. The early ploughs often just consisted of an ox hoof, or horn, tied to a stick. In 1920, the first miniature metal plough was made by the local blacksmith, Bill Hourston. Some of these are still in use today, and they are works of art, being precise replicas in every detail of full-size adult ploughs.”

Lukas of Arsenal Gay Gooners, London, by David J Shaw

“Lukas is a member of Gay Gooners, Arsenal FC’s LGBTQ+ fan group. Gay Gooners are the UK’s first and largest LGBTQ+ football fan group and provide a safe space at Arsenal games. Part of an ongoing project documenting Pride in Football, a growing UK-wide movement of football fan groups for LGBTQ+ supporters.”

To see all shortlisted entries, as well as discover which shots were the eventual winners, visit https://www.1854.photography/2025/01/portrait-of-britain-100-stories-light-up-the-nation/

All portraits: Portrait of Britain vol. 7 Shortlist © the photographer