Thought-provoking photos focus on confronting taboos

The poignant collection of images, In Sickness and In Health, which is going on show at the Ferens Art Gallery, tackles his mother Rene’s decline after a stroke and ultimately her death.

Colin began taking photographs of his parents in the 1960s when he was aged just five. On family holidays his father Ron, an engineer, would use one roll of film per holiday and the youngster was allowed to take a picture a day.

After moving to London he went on to create an extensive body of work documenting his parents lives; their relationship, work and home-life.

When his mother had a stroke, Colin continued taking images, capturing his family’s “quiet agony”, her initial hospitalisation, Ron’s struggle with his role as a carer and Rene’s death in 2004.

Colin said that, having taken images of his parents all of his life, his father hadn’t objected to him taking pictures in the final hours of his mother’s life.

He said: “This work has been cathartic, preparing me to face the loss and deterioration I have endured.

“I have reached the age my parents were when I started the project.

“Looking at myself in the mirror I see a reflection of my father’s face. I see the history in my own future.”

Colin will be giving a free talk at the gallery in Queen Victoria Square on Saturday at 12.30pm, and will be available afterwards to sign copies of a catalogue, on sale in the gallery shop for £22.

The exhibition runs until Sunday, February 26.