Last school year B-HUGs had the privilege of partnering with Eileen Perrier, a London-based Associate Lecturer, photographer and artist specializing in portraiture and documentary work. We are now planning a visit with Eileen in her London neighbourhood.

On Wednesday, April 29th, 2026, Eileen led her first session with B-HUGs, focusing on teaching the cohort how to use their cameras. After an engaging icebreaker to foster community, students learned about three fundamental photography concepts: ISO (Film Speed), AV (Aperture Priority), and TV (Shutter Speed Priority).

The students then expressed their creativity by taking photographs in pairs or small groups, exploring various angles and perspectives. They made creative use of their surroundings: incorporating plants, benches, and walls as unique backgrounds, and utilized haircare tools such as wigs, durags, and bonnets to symbolize versatility, and self-expression. These themes aligned perfectly with B-HUGs’ elective, “Behind the Crown,” which emphasizes that hair is more than just hair; it serves as a crown representing heritage, identity, culture, and resilience. This session ignited an atmosphere of excitement and curiosity, in the following sessions students were able to use their photographs to design their own personalized scrapbook.

The students returned with renewed enthusiasm for their second session with Eileen on May 20th, 2026. This workshop delved deeper into themes of identity, culture, and self-expression through the lens of hair.

Eagerly, the students engaged in sun printing, self-portrait photography, and collage-making, drawing from personal photographs. They found inspiration in samples of Eileen’s work, as well as in other photographs celebrating hair pride and versatility. The students actively discussed what these photos meant to them and the words that resonated within them.

The session ended with a virtual talk from Faisal Abdu’Allah, an artist and barber, who shared insights into his art practice and the experience of running a barbershop. He emphasized versatility through his diverse artistic expressions, including photographs, sculptures, and his installation “The Golden Barber’s Chair.” This sparked curiosity and excitement among the students, highlighting the deep connections between hair, community, and identity.

Eileen Perrier’s two workshops seamlessly blended photography and art with themes of hair, identity, heritage, and pride. The students greatly appreciated having a creative space to express their culture and celebrate their hair pride.

– Ria