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Born in Jamaica in 1951, Vanley Burke moved to Birmingham in 1965, armed with his camera given to him by his grandmother for his 10th birthday. He started photographing daily life in the community around him in 1967 and has continued to the present day.

Photograph by Vanley Burke©

For over 30 years Vanley Burke has single-mindedly followed his self appointed task to document the life of the black community in Britain. From worship and baptism in a local church to family weddings and birthdays or simply men enjoying a session of dominos.

Historical events in pictures...

He was there at African Liberation Day in 1977, Handsworth park, where the biggest all-black crowd gathered in Britian. He was also there in 1981 and 1985 when Birmingham's streets erupted in violent riots.

Photograph by Vanley Burke©

Vanley’s amazing work has been exhibited extensively across the UK and abroad. With solo exhibitions in New York, Mall and closer to home at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Black Arts Gallery in London Cornerhouse in Manchester, amongst others.

The photographs have also been displayed in locations more easily accessed by black audiences including pubs, clubs, community centres, churches and schools.

At home and abroad...

Although much of his work is centred around the Handsworth area, Vanley has also worked in many other towns and cities and overseas, most importantly in South Africa during the struggles against apartheid.

Photograph by Vanley Burke©

Shortly after the release of Nelson Mandela he took self-financed trip to South Africa to record people and events in post-Apartheid.

Vanley says: "The photographs are very much a part of a documentation process which we as black people need to go through, and it is not an attempt to show the black community to the wider community, this is where we are, it is more importantly a record!"

The Vanley Burke collection

Visit the Birmingham Central Library to view the full collection of photographs taken by Vanley Burke, for exhibitions and projects in both the UK and abroad.

Photograph by Vanley Burke©

Digital Handsworth

More of Vanley's work is also featured on the Digital Handsworth website alongside work by local other photographers.

Digital Handsworth provides a multimedia resource guide to the history of the community, using personal documents, photographs, recollections and oral history, personal documents and film in the possession of archives, libraries and museums.

Visit the Dgital Handsworth website: www.digitalhandsworth.org.uk