JAYNE LLOYD

PHOTOGRAPHER

My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

EXHIBITION: MY ST MARTIN’S

It has been an absolute privilege to have been commissioned to create a series of 15 photographic portraits as part of ‘St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge‘, a new exhibition celebrating 300 years of St Martin’s stories.

The free exhibition, made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, includes a wide range of fascinating objects and incredible stories about the iconic church in Trafalgar Square, the ‘church of the ever open door’, where London’s first free lending library was launched and to where the origins of the Big Issue, Amnesty International and Shelter can all be traced.

The inspiration for the photographic commission was the sketchbook of artist and congregant Vanessa Tinker, which was donated to St Martin’s when she died in 2019. Tinker visited St Martin’s weekly and spent time drawing inside the church. Her sketches capture its still beauty and the many reasons people come inside: to sit, pray, work, rehearse, rest, wait and sleep.

I spent time reflecting on Tinker’s work and what her focus was drawn to: the angle of a hand, the intermingled positioning of a couple, the slump of someone in deep relaxation, the light and shade in this calm space just steps away from one of the busiest locations in the country. With St Martin’s Archivist Louisa Price, we asked the questions ‘Why did you come? Why have you stayed?’ and the portraits and responses are now on display along the railings on Duncannon Street, on the edge of Trafalgar Square.

I highly encourage you to visit the exhibition and spend time at St Martin’s. Not only is it a landmark with stunning architecture and art, it’s a calm space to sit away from the bustle of outside, host to many incredible concerts and home to a spacious (and delicious) underground café, the proceeds of which go towards The Connection, who work tirelessly to support those facing homelessness.

St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge

24 June – 15 November 2026
St Martin-in-the-Fields
Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 4JJ

Find out more about the exhibition on their website, where you can also learn more about their history, stories and collections: https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/st-martin-in-the-fields-300-years-at-the-heart-and-on-the-edge

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My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
Photograph taken from above and behind a person sitting in dark wooden pews, wearing a beige linen jacket, resting their arm on the side and their hand on their face.
My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
From the series 'My St Martin's', commissioned as part of the 'St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge' exhibition at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd. From the series 'My St Martin's', commissioned as part of the 'St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge' exhibition at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
From the series 'My St Martin's', commissioned as part of the 'St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge' exhibition at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
‘I work for The Connection at St Martin’s, which is a homeless day centre. In all my 38 years there, I’ve been coming to this church regularly. Lots of our clients come into the church and relax and chill out, sit and unwind. The church is really important to what we do and for our clients who have some safety here: they can just come and relax and check out.’ - Peter From the series 'My St Martin's', commissioned as part of the 'St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge' exhibition at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's, a photographic series by Jayne Lloyd, inspired by the sketchbook of Vanessa Tinker, on display at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's. St Martin-in-the-Fields. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's. St Martin-in-the-Fields. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.
My St Martin's. St Martin-in-the-Fields. Photograph by Jayne Lloyd.

A huge thank you to Louisa Price for this wonderful opportunity, the staff and visitors at St Martin’s who shared their time and stories so generously with us and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting the St Martin-in-the-Fields 300 Heritage Project.

St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge

24 June – 15 November 2026
St Martin-in-the-Fields
Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 4JJ

https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/st-martin-in-the-fields-300-years-at-the-heart-and-on-the-edge

I’m a photographer with a background in arts and heritage. I like to explore people’s relationships with unique environments and I’m particularly interested in recording small details and unusual processes. If you’d like to have a chat about commissioning me to work with you, get in touch by email here.

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