empowering people living with dementia and their communities through the arts








Academic and

Awards 




With increasing evidence of the benefits of artistic creativity for people living with dementia neurologically, socially and emotionally, Ellie designed The Photobook Project as part of her Masters in Illustration: Authorial Practice at Falmouth University (2014-16).

Ellie is currently undertaking a PhD by Published Works at University of Hull. The title of this is: “You help me to become more clear about how I express myself, you help me be an expert”: Illustration as a tool for illumination, telling stories and igniting connection for individuals living with dementia.

If you would like to read more, we recommend reading Ellie’s paper ‘Creativity, Community and Connections’: Empowering people living with dementia through illustrative practice. You can find this on Intellect Books by clicking here

Below is a timeline of academic events, awards and papers The Photobook Project has been involved in to date. If you are interested in the project featuring as part of an academic event, exhibition or publication, please contact Ellie on ellie@the-photobook-project.com. 




Photo Credits: John Hersey




2023

Amanze selected for Mental Filmmess Chicago 

Oral presentation at the 52nd Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology

Creative Director for Homes that Care Project with MA Illustration at University of Plymouth

Amanze awarded Honourable Mention at Covent Garden Film Festival





2022

Embarked on Global Fellowship Starling Collective by Giving Tuesday 

Talk at Kingston on MA Illustration: “This, for me now, is part of my DNA”: A Socially Engaged Practice

Article in Issue 2 The Southwester

Featured on Portrait series of The People’s Republic of South Devon

Directed and organised “Only Connect!” Conference 2022: an international symposium about the benefits of creative intergenerational and inclusive practice and research

Amanze screened at film festivals Go Mental (Berlin), Mental (Lisbon) and Introduce London

Interviewed by Frankie Magazine about The Photobook Project, released in print across the globe

Hosted Jaroslava Strakova from University of Prague as part of her Erasums internship. Jarka supported with graphic design, exhibition curation, communtiy engagement, website design and other creative tasks

Completed an In Residence with The Inclusivity Project with Dr Victoria Tischler and Dr Shruti Raghuraman, creating an evidence base for a training programme for The Photobook Project 





2021

Awarded funding from The Ideas Fund to collaborate with University of Hull and Butterflies Memory Loss Support Group to research into the benefits of the arts

Keynote speaker at 2nd International Webinar on Dementia and Alzheimer’s Rehabilitation, “My Dementia Life Matters” and AMANZE film

Launch of AMANZE film at Culture, Health and Wellbeing International Conference, Arts and Health South West

Premiere of AMANZE film with MSc Dementia staff and students at University of Hull

Featured in Living Well with Dementia module content on MSc Demenita at University of Hull 

Commissioned by Art Licks to deliver ‘Together Apart’ with Next Steps, funded by Ryedale District Council

Awarded The Multipler with The Cares Family and UnLtD

Selected artist and project for Synthesisa, a project with Plymouth University and Cultivator Cornwall






2020

Featured in The Daiwa Foundation’s Annual Reviewsee page 24 for “Pass the Baton!”

Speaker at Engaging Dementia’s 12th International Dementia Conference, Dublin. “The Photobook Project: A creative framework empowering people living with dementia”

Published paper in peer reviewed journal Illustrating Mental Health, Illustration Research. “Creativity, Community and Connections: Empowering people living with dementia through creative illustrative practice”




2019

Speaker at lllustrating Mental Health, University of Worcestor. “Pass the Baton!”

“Only Connect!” A community symposium about the benefits of intergenerational practice and research. Keynote: The Photobook Project 

“Pass the Baton!” residency across Japan with the Dementia Friendship Club’s project Run Tomo, funded by The Daiwa Foundaton

Observations in Nature Exhibition at Potager Garden, Constantine, by Sensory Trust

Winner of Jean’s Dementia Fund, Penryn Memory Cafe, supporting attendance for international conferences (stated above)

Plenary Speaker at 12th International Conference on Vascular Dementia, Stockholm. “Creativity, Community & Connections: Empowering people with dementia through artistic practice”

Convenor & Plenary Speaker at 11th International Conference on Vascular Dementia, Amsterdam. “Creativity, Community & Connections: Empowering people with dementia through artistic practice”

Winner of Creative Investment Grant from Cultivator Cornwall to speak at 11th International Conference on Vascular Dementia, Amsterdam & 12th International Conference on Alzeimer Rehabilitation, Stockholm

Speaker at ‘Chaos’ forum, Falmouth University. “Hello Neighbour!”

Published “Hello Neighbour!” with Atlantic Press Books



2018

Exhibitor of “Hello Neighbour!” at “So you think you know where you’re going?” at Enys Gardens, Penryn. Curated by Cultivator, Cornwall

Exhibition at Studio E Old Shop Studios in Falmouth of Observations at Ashridge Field School with Amy Goodwin. Funded by Cultivator, Cornwall

Artist in residence at Humanitas, Deventer titled ‘Hello Neighbour!”. Funded by the Arts Council Interational Development Fund

As an Associate Lecturer at Manchester School of Art on ‘Contextual Practice’, BA Illustraton & Graphic Design, Ellie delivered a lecture about The Photobook Project

University of Gloucester, MA Illustration. Lecture delivered about The Photobook Project, focusing on The Happy Wanderers



2017

Exhibitior & winner of ‘Hope & Renewal’ Photography Competition in Exeter, UK. Pink Ladies from 8. Sound at Gossmoor, Observations by the Happy Wanderers

Exhibitior & speaker at Embodied Cartographies, Fringe Arts Bath. “Observations by the Happy Wanderers”

Speaker at ‘Beyond Words’ Conference, Plymouth University. “Why are we going around in circles?”

Visiting Lecturer at Falmouth University, MA Illustration: Authorial Practice. Running turorials, workshops and delivering lecture about socially engaged practice, including The Photobook Project. 

Volunteer at Sensory Trust, with the ‘Happy Wanderers’: walking group for people living with dementia and their carers.




2016

International Illustration Conference ‘Shaping the View’, Edinburgh College of Art. “Why are we going around in circles?”