Venetia Dearden

Venetia Dearden is a British photographer and filmmaker based in London. She is best known for her intimate portraiture and documentary work, which often explores themes of identity, family, and community.

Dearden was born in London in 1982. She studied photography at the University of Westminster, graduating with a BA in 2004. After graduating, she began working as a freelance photographer for publications such as The Guardian, The Observer, and The Independent.

In 2008, Dearden was awarded the prestigious Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize for her portrait of a young girl from East London. This image was later acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London.

In 2010, Dearden released her first book of photographs entitled "The Family". This book explored the lives of three generations of women living in East London and was widely praised by critics.

In 2012, Dearden released her first feature-length documentary film entitled "The Way We Live Now". This film explored the lives of people living in East London and was nominated for several awards including Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards.

Dearden has exhibited her work internationally including shows at Tate Britain (London), The Photographers' Gallery (London), and The Museum of Modern Art (New York). Her work has also been featured in numerous publications including Vogue Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, and TIME Magazine.

Dearden continues to live and work in London where she is currently working on a new series of photographs exploring themes of identity and belonging.