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Brendan Barry's "Flowers for Bea": Lockdown Sun Prints Made in a Garden Shed

artist · 2026-10-22

British photographer Brendan Barry turned his garden shed into a darkroom during the 2020 lockdown, using light to expose wildflowers directly onto photosensitive paper. The resulting series, "Flowers for Bea," consists of floral still lifes with saturated colour and an almost painterly surface; each image is unique and cannot be reproduced. The flowers were gathered on daily walks with Barry's daughter Bea, who gives the project its title. Analogue experimentation defines Barry's wider practice: he builds handmade cameras and converts objects and entire environments into working photographic devices. He completed a master's degree in Photography at the University of Plymouth in 2012 and is founder and director of Positive Light Projects, a non-profit organisation that promotes photography and the visual arts through educational activities and participatory projects. Images from the series are credited to brendanbarry.co.uk, with the photographer's Instagram account listed as @brendanbarryphoto.

Key facts

  • "Flowers for Bea" is a series of floral still lifes by British photographer and visual artist Brendan Barry
  • The works were made during the 2020 lockdown
  • Barry collected wildflowers on daily walks with his daughter Bea
  • He converted his garden shed into a darkroom for the project
  • Light was used to imprint the flowers directly onto photosensitive paper
  • Each photograph is unique and cannot be repeated
  • Barry received a master's in Photography from the University of Plymouth in 2012
  • He founded and directs the non-profit Positive Light Projects

Entities

Artists

  • Brendan Barry
  • Bea

Institutions

  • University of Plymouth
  • Positive Light Projects
  • Objects.

Locations

  • United Kingdom
  • Plymouth
  • Italy

Sources