This photography Book  project started some years ago as a simple act of nostalgia—retracing the footsteps of my youth as a young goth, drinking cider on Broadway, and spending Friday nights jumping around to The Clash at Benson’s nightclub. Back then, the city felt like a playground of fields, concrete, and music. It was a place where I could be both a countryside kid, free to play in nature, and a teenager immersed in the punk and goth scenes that thrived in Bradford.

So much of that Bradford has disappeared now. Many of the places I once loved are derelict, crumbling under the weight of neglect. The project, which began as a way to reconnect with those memories, has evolved into something bigger. As I walk the streets of my childhood, camera in hand, I’ve started to see the city’s architectural story as a reflection of its people and struggles.

Bradford’s history is so layered and complex. It was the wool capital of the world following the Industrial Revolution, earning the nickname “Worstedopolis.” Its wealth built stunning neo-Gothic and Venetian Gothic buildings—testaments to a time when the city’s fortunes seemed unstoppable. However, with the decline of the wool industry in the 20th century came an economic collapse that left these beautiful buildings abandoned. Entire neighborhoods were erased, replaced by the stark lines of brutalist and modernist structures.

Walking through the city now feels like tracing the scars of history. Victorian grandeur sits alongside derelict factories, 70s brutalism, and hopeful regeneration projects. These buildings tell stories of poverty and resilience, of migration and marginalization, of racial tensions and systemic inequalities. Bradford has endured incredibly tough times, but there’s something beautiful about its grit and determination to keep going.

Update  this year ( 2025 ) Bradford was awarded the City of Culture which has given an unexpected and interesting layer to my documenting of  the city. I kept true to my intention to tell story through buildings and urban scapes and made the decision to keep the book absolutely free of text descriptions of any kind and allow the writing on the walls as it were to describe and be interpreted by the viewer. At the time of writing this little update, the first curated selection of City of Dreams  postcards as part of a crowdfunding for the self publishing of  the book have been printed and book design is in process with the  first edition expected by the end of the year.

As a kid, I don’t think I realized how much the city shaped me. But returning as an adult, I see it in a new light. I find echoes of my childhood everywhere, from the familiar crumbling walls to the faint strains of punk music I imagine coming from long-gone clubs. There’s a kind of romance to Bradford, even in its decay.

David Hockney, my personal hero and inspiration, serves as a bright cultural beacon for Bradfordians. Known for his ability to reimagine how we see the world through vibrant color and experimentation, Hockney’s early work—created in the conservative environment of post-war Bradford—represents a defiant embrace of individuality and creativity. I see him as an artistic rebel, which, to me, reflects the very heart of Bradford. His Yorkshire upbringing has remained central to his artistic identity, a constant reminder of the city’s influence.

The National Science and Media Museum was such a welcome surprise when it opened. To have a visible commitment to storytelling through image and communication, and to celebrate the art of photography in a city where so many people have struggled to make their voices heard, was a symbol of hope to many.

Now, with its new title as the UK City of Culture, the atmosphere is once again one of hope. There are opportunities to transform the area, to celebrate its rich history and the creativity of its people. I hope the layers of Bradford—industrial, modernist, subcultural—aren’t erased in the process, but embraced. It’s a city that has always been a patchwork of contrasts, and long may that remain.

This project feels more important to me than ever. It’s not just about documenting a place—it’s about capturing the spirit of a city that shaped who I am. Bradford may still be suffering, and it remains to be seen if the promised development and investment will reach the places and people most in need. But perhaps we can say that Bradford’s resilience and grit will help make the most of the opportunity.