The Art of Roller Skating is an exhibition by artist and documentary photographer Debby Besford, celebrating the artistic roller skating heritage of Great Yarmouth.
Debby is an award winning photographer who grew up in Great Yarmouth, where she trained as an artistic roller-skater as a teenager. Before discovering her love of photography, she went on to become a national skating judge, travelling all over the country to skating competitions.
There have been various roller-skating rinks around Great Yarmouth over the years, including the Gorleston Rollerdrome (at the Super Holiday Camp), the Winter Gardens, the outdoor rink next to Wellington Pier, and the recently closed Retroskate (now relocated to Cobholm as the Retro Skating Academy, training a new generation of artistic roller skaters).
This has resulted in a great enthusiasm for the activity in the town, with a large number of national champions hailing from Great Yarmouth. Debby's photographs perfectly encapsulate this by emphasising the athletic prowess, medals and outlook of her young subjects. Check the Original Projects website for details of associated events and opening times. To view an article about the Skater Project by Debby Besford on Creative Boom Click Here.
Funded by Arts Council England and the Postcode Lottery Trust.
VIEW MORE OF DEBBY BESFORD'S WORK IN OUR ONLINE SHOP
About the author
Paul Barratt
Paul Barratt started working in contemporary art galleries in 1989, having graduated in Fine Art from Goldmsith’s, London University. He initially worked at Anthony d’Offay Gallery, one of the contemporary art dealers, who dominated the London art market in the 80s and 90s. He was approached by the Lisson Gallery to be gallery manager for the influential art dealer Nicholas Logsdail. This was followed by a short period in New York at Gladstone Gallery, to work for visionary art dealer Barbara Gladstone, working with the artist and filmmaker Matthew Barney.
On his return to London, Paul secured a place on the postgraduate curatorial course at the Royal College of Art, to complete an MA. After graduation in 2001, he worked as an independent curator on several projects in Oslo, London, Brighton and Basel, before joining Paul Vater at his design agency Sugarfree in 2004. He has worked with Paul ever since.