SHIRLEY BAKER (1932–2014) was a distinguished British photographer whose work focused on capturing the daily lives of working-class communities in the industrial North West of England. Born in Salford, Baker studied photography at Manchester College of Technology and later at Regent Street Polytechnic in London. Her career spanned over six decades, with her most iconic images documenting the demolition of working-class neighborhoods in Manchester and Salford during the 1960s and 1970s.

Sherley’s work is celebrated for its warmth, humor, and social insight, depicting scenes of children playing, women chatting, and the resilience of communities amidst urban decay. Unlike many photographers of her time, Baker's approach was empathetic and non-judgmental, focusing on the human stories within the harsh realities of urban redevelopment.

Her work remained largely unrecognized during her lifetime but has gained significant posthumous recognition. It has been presented at prestigious venues such as the Photographers' Gallery in London and the Museum of the City of New York. Several publications have also been dedicated to her photography, including a feature film, Shirley Baker: Life Through a Lens, with Jason Figgis, and a podcast under the same title.

Shirley’s photography serves as an important visual record of a disappearing way of life, and her work continues to influence and inspire contemporary photographers.

For more details, you can visit her [official biography]

The body of work we present here is courtesy of Nan Levy, Shirley’s daughter, for the Estate of Shirley Baker.