Broken crayons can still draw!

Reframing the Narrative: WIS What about us?

This ongoing portrait project is a response to the limited and often stereotypical portrayals of Wounded, Injured, or Sick (WIS) veterans in the UK. Too often, public perception is shaped by a narrow lens, casting veterans as either heroic survivors, broken victims, or threats to society. My aim is to challenge those assumptions by creating space for individual stories that go beyond the visible and the expected.

Each portrait is captured in a studio setting against a consistent dark backdrop, removing distractions and placing full focus on the person. This uniformity highlights difference not through props or environment, but through presence, expression, and the unique voice of each participant. These are not images of pity or spectacle; they are quiet, dignified, and intentional.

Many of those involved in this project live with injuries or conditions that are not outwardly visible. This invisibility adds another layer of complexity to how they are perceived and often misjudged by society. By presenting their stories without the visual cues typically used to signify injury or trauma, I hope to invite a more thoughtful and human engagement with the work.

This project is personal, informed by my own service in the Royal Navy and my lived understanding of the WIS community. It’s also shaped by collaboration each image and story is made with, not just of, the person involved.

Ultimately, the project seeks to replace stereotype with nuance, silence with testimony, and distance with connection.