From 12th January until 8th February 2026, digital screens at London bus shelters, Heathrow airport, as well as high streets, shopping centres and rail stations in the capital and across Britain will once again be transformed into a national art gallery.
Portrait of Britain was launched by British Journal of Photography in the year of the Brexit referendum to celebrate the rich tapestry of people who make up Great Britain by turning their stories into public art. It has since grown into the UK’s largest annual photography competition. 200 portraits were selected from thousands of entries for publication in this year’s volume of the accompanying photobook, including the 100 winners whose portraits are featured in the outdoor exhibition.
This year’s selection includes individuals born and raised in the UK, those who arrived as children, those who came through struggle or conflict, and others who are simply passing through. Themes of belonging, identity and heritage run through the collection, which spans sitters’ ages from 7 to 101, from photographers capturing close friends and family members to shop owners and market traders, from formal photo shoots with celebrities or local heroes to random encounters and real-life moments that often go unnoticed. Communities defined by history, heritage and folklore, from rural farming communities to diaspora communities. Those based on gender or sexuality, others who find each other through sports, religion or music, or are united by visible and invisible disabilities.
Cinematographer and documentary photographer Adam Docker is one of the 100 winning photographers whose work forms part of the exhibition. Docker took the portrait of ‘Liela’ as she gathered her thoughts and pondered her life during a break while filming a short documentary for the humanitarian charity Waging Peace.
Born, raised and educated in Sudan, Liela Medani settled in London in the 1990s, where she founded and chaired multiple community organisations, charities and emergency relief funds in support of minority ethnic groups, and Sudanese women in particular. In 2023, she was caught up in the outbreak of war in Sudan. The photo was taken at her London home on her return to the UK, a single shot capturing the essence of a journey marked by separation from family, from Sudan, and from London. A story that is as uniquely personal as it is a part of the human archive that reflects the richness and diversity of modern Britain.
Adam Docker grew up between London and Rome and has filmed in more than 90 countries. Influenced by his Italian roots and the legacy of a father tragically shot dead when he was a young child, his creative work is defined by a deep sense of resilience, justice and identity. He is renowned for his emotionally driven approach to visual storytelling, with award-winning work including a documentary on a deaf man’s journey from isolation to inspiration, a short film about a man’s strong bond to his horse, and the National Geographic series ‘Eco Crime Investigators’.
Of his photographic work, he says:
“A picture, without you even noticing, emits an energy and becomes a reminder of something that matters to you, whatever that might be. It stays with you for life. It isn’t an instant dopamine hit, it’s an emotional journey that keeps changing over time.”
This sentiment resonates strongly with Portrait of Britain, where the stories of those depicted linger long after the digital screens return to advertising.
Portrait of Britain exhibition in partnership with JCDecaux UK, 12th January – 8th February on digital screens across the UK.
Portrait of Britain Vol. 8 photobook published by Bluecoat Press and sponsored by WePresent : bluecoatpress.co.uk/product/portrait-of-britain-volume-8
Adam Docker @adamdockerphoto
