Yorkshire poet and BBC radio broadcaster Ian McMillan and Peak District/Greater Manchester artist photographer Andrew Brooks took up a year-long creative correspondence across the Pennines, inspired by the daily whimsical tweets made by Ian on his early morning strolls around Darfield, near Barnsley.
The results will be shown in an exhibition at Manchester’s Portico Library called The Songs The Morning Sang 6 June-27 September 2025.
Influenced by McMillan’s fresh and poetic Twitter takes on his neighbourhood, which began during the first Covid lockdown, Brooks set out to make his own series of pre-dawn walks. Leaving at 5am each day with his camera, the photographer took hundreds of pictures within two miles of his New Mills home.
After each walk, Brooks then shared his pictures with McMillan, who responded to the images of his choice, building narrative into each and sending back an unexpected micro story.
A true call and response venture, McMillan’s words began to shape the images Brooks created, the pair working together in an unbroken feedback loop.
The Songs The Morning Sang is at The Portico Library in Manchester 6 June-27 September 2025
