In 2022-23 Historic England commissioned several photographers to work with local communities to capture images representative of their local high streets. This formed part of the Picturing High Streets project. In Coventry, Tim Mills was commissioned as photographer. He wrote the following text to describe his work on the project: "Operating within a small, localised geographic area, I have spent a year working alongside local communities in The Burges, one of the few traditional historic high street areas surviving in Coventry.
"Informed by industries that defined the city of the past and those that shape it today, I have explored the exchange of goods and services by engaging with shop owners and the wider community in photographic acts and workshops, harnessing the skills and expertise of local businesses to create the art works. Using photography, textils and performance, I have produced a range of small, experimental studies and collaborative outcomes featuring multiple authors and voices." This submission was split into three parts. This part of the submission, 'Top Rank', explores the history of the Palmer Lane taxi rank in Coventry. The photographer wrote the following text relating to these images: "Throughout the commission, I have been engaging with the taxi drivers in Palmer Lane to explore the history of Coventry's most established and long-standing taxi rank.
The drivers have contributed to a series of portraits, showing the objects that hang from their rear-view mirrors, revealing an insight into each individual driver through their beliefs, passions, and allegiances." 'Picturing England's High Streets' commission by GRAIN, Historic England and Photoworks.
'Top Rank' images by Tim Mills, with contributions from Jaz, Kal, Major, Rav, Sam and Tim.
This is part of the Job: HEC01/128/01/03/01 'Top Rank' - Palmer Lane Taxi Rank, Coventry; within the Volume: HEC01/128/01/03 Picturing High Streets Photographer Residencies - Tim Mills: Coventry; within the Sub Series: HEC01/128/01 Picturing High Streets: Photographer Residencies; within the Series: HEC01/128 Picturing High Streets; within the Collection: HEC01 Historic England
© Tim Mills
Photographer: Mills, Tim
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