Shelby is a documentary and portrait photographer based in Bristol. She gained a BA(Hons) in Documentary Photography from The University of Wales College, Newport in 2004, where she worked on themes of lost childhood and the family album. In her final year, she was awarded 4th in the Ian Parry Award 2004 for her series “Baby Doll” which explored the world of child beauty pageants in America. One of her images from this series was selected for The Telegraph’s Travel Photographer of the Year exhibition in 2004.
After taking a break to raise her children as a lone parent, Shelby returned to photography and studied a Master’s degree at UWE Bristol. In her photographic practice, Shelby consistently explores the intricacies of human connections and the search for identity. She has used her camera to tell the stories of underprivileged communities working for International Development NGOs in Nepal and Togo.
shelbymansell59@gmail.com www.shelbyalexander.co.uk →
Uprooted from Australia to the UK at 11 years old, I faced profound loss and isolation. Women around me brought hope, yet emptiness persisted. Returning to Australia after 38 years, I found a soul-stirring reconnection to land and self.
