There really is a lot of talent about and maybe people do not know about it

There really is a lot of talent about and maybe people do not know about it

12 August 2015

SOHAILA McKee is originally from Iran but long ago fell in love with the beauty of County Down.

She has been living here for 26 years, now outside Ballynahinch, after meeting her husband Brian in London when they were both studying.

Passionate about the scenery and the talent of local designers and crafters, she feels Northern Ireland is beginning to appreciate its natural resources — but believes the full tourist potential of local crafters is yet to be tapped.

Sohaila is a photographer for 

Craft Northern Ireland, which promotes and develops the design-led contemporary craft industry in Northern Ireland. Government agencies, cultural organisations and universities and colleges are among the people they work with.

As well as completing many stunning commissions, Sohaila also runs photography workshops for Craft NI, allowing the designer-makers, as they are known in the industry, to photograph and promote their own work.

“They decided a lot of designer-makers probably cannot probably afford professional photography at times,” said Sohaila. “We held a workshop so they could do simple product shots themselves.”

As well the workshops, Sohaila runs Vizz Creative photography with Brian, and in addition to the craft photography is a food photographer, photographing the culinary creations of a number of local businesses.

Among the local designers Sohaila has photographed are Killinchy based Sheena Devitt, who bases her work on stone carving, and Saintfield textile designer Jude Cassidy.

“A lot of it is based on light and shade,” she said of her photography. “You do get a boost when people say you are the only one who gets my work. I was a designer myself before getting into photography so I understand where they come from and the time and energy put into it.”

August is Craft Month and many local designer-makers are opening the doors of their workshops to the public. It is an opportunity Sohaila is encouraging people to take. “There really is a lot of talent about and maybe people do not know about it,” she said. “Maybe the designers also do not put themselves out there too much.”

Sohaila was born in Iran and at the age of 17 went to England to visit cousins and learn the language for a few months. She never properly returned, studying product design and completing postgraduate study at the London College of Furniture.

Husband Brian was from Donaghadee and Sohaila began to appreciate the prospect of a creative life away from the hustle and bustle of London.

“I just loved the space here and the scenery in Northern Ireland,” she said. “I remember one day standing on the Northern Line in London and thinking I don’t want to go on the train. You do frequently ended up being pushed.”

With the work opportunities somewhat different here Sohaila trained herself in graphic design.

“I think Northern Ireland has changed a lot,” she said. “Craft NI are bringing people to the forefront now, showing people what can be done and the past six or seven years we have seen a lot of promotion, showcasing the work of craftspeople in the community. We are getting there. A lot of the time our budgets are not big enough in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

“I think it could be exploited more. People shout a lot about the scenery here but there is also a lot of talent.”

Now aged 56, Sohaila has spent most of her life away from a country she loved and visits home when she can. Although there were some restrictions on challenging authority in the country of her childhood she says it was largely very free and growing up was a happy time.

“Unfortunately after I left the political situation changed and it became a totally different kind of country,” she said. Sohaila said that the inequalities now faced by women are not something she could cope with, but points out that “Iranian women have been highly educated” and sometimes try to find ways around the system.

“It is such a beautiful country and I do miss it,” she added. “I went back two years ago and I had not been for 19 years and I realised how much I had missed everything so much. All the lovely food. Certainly I miss aspects of the four seasons, we have not had much of a summer here. There is not that hot, hot weather.”

The complexities of the Iranian political situation means Sohaila is not overly phased by Northern Ireland’s problems. Some of what happens, though, she thinks is a pity.

“I just wonder sometimes why shouldn’t we all work together and I don’t quite understand it,” she added. “I think  — what have we got to complain about?”

For more information the event on the events and exhibitions taking place during August Craft Month and the work of Craft Northern Ireland visit http://www.craftni.org/

To see more of Sohaila’s photography work visit http://vizz.biz/