Eye photographer Wendy Aiken to show lockdown exhibition at The Bank Arts Centre

A photographer and editor of Eye Magazine is set to show lockdown life through a lens with her new exhibition.

Wendy Aiken is hosting 5 Years On, Lockdown in Eye at The Bank Arts Centre, in Castle Street, Eye, from Wednesday to March 29.

The owner of Wendy Aiken Photography, who has had a passion for pictures since the age of 12, started her collection after friends asked her to take their pictures on their doorsteps.

“Then, when I was out on lockdown walks with my husband and daughter, I started taking pictures of people walking their dogs and expanded that to the community, the shops and certain Eye characters I had known all my life,” said the 46-year-old.

“I really wanted to capture this slice of history and some of the people and places that would not be around forever.

“We all said back then that we would not go back to living the way we did pre-lockdown and change a bit, but I feel people have forgotten what it was like then, so I thought this would remind them of those times.”

The exhibition will consist of 157 framed pictures as well as folders of more photographs and a memorial room with a tree for people to hang messages on for those who died.

Wendy said: “I want people to come together again, see and remember, but I also know that time was not all nice and that some of it was incredibly difficult for people as well.

“So the exhibition will show some heart-wrenching images of people who are no longer with us.”

During lockdown, the grandmother-of-two raised more than £2,000 from her pictures, which went to the Families Together Suffolk charity shop in the town and Eye Opportunity Group.

“With this exhibition, I will also be raising money for those charities again, but also for The Bank Arts Centre as I feel it is such an important asset for the town,” said Wendy.

“I would like to thank everyone and the support of so many businesses in Eye for helping to make this exhibition happen.”