PETER URPETH reports on photographer BEKA DILWORTH’s homecoming, and the fruition of a 12-year project.

Residents of the Isle of Harris saw a familiar face in their midsts recently when photographer Beka Dilworth returned to the island to progress the completion of a new book of portraits of Harris people.

'A Beag', photographed by Beka Dilworth

Beka was raised in Becravik, in the Bays area of east Harris, and attended Sir E Scott School and The Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, before leaving the island to attend Napier University where she completed a BA degree in Photography.

Beka’s work has featured in Cork Street galleries, London, and The Rocket gallery, London, and she travelled to New Zealand for a six month trip photographing the unique Maori ‘Moko tattoos and tribal markings.

'Barber', photographed by Beka Dilworth

Currently, Beka is living and working in the Loch Ness area and is working as a photographer for the Scottish Film Commission taking location shots to try and attract the producers of potential blockbuster movies to the area.

The ‘Harris Portraits’ series is an on-going project which started some 12 years ago as part of her final year project at Napier University.

'Roddy', photographed by Beka Dilworth

Now, due to the intervention of fine art dealer Eric Franck, who counts amongst his clients the famous press photography agency Magnum, and who is also the son-in-law of the famous photographer Cartier-Bresson, Bekas portraits are to be issued as a book next summer.

The inspiration for her work includes photographer Annie Leibowitz, and Beka, who admits to loving taking portraits, hopes that her pictures tell a straight-forward, honest story about the subject and, collectively, the portraits will tell a story about the island and its people.  The book will feature a forward by Harris genealogist Bill Lawson.

© Peter Urpeth, 2003