Mark Neville — Deeds Not Words

Mark Neville
Frankie and Deano,
Grampian Club, 2010

LondonArt & Culture

Corrosion Treatment

Actions speak louder than words in former steelworks town...

The moment we clapped eyes on the first of Mark Neville’s photographs we thought “Scotland”, and although we were a couple of hundred miles out, we were still almost right. The scene for Neville’s Deeds Not Words images is Corby in Northamptonshire, once known as Little Scotland for its large population of migrant workers who moved down to find employment at the steelworks.

The second thing we thought was “sadness”, and there is certainly an element of post-industrial decay about Neville’s scenes, a dated, faded quality. The truth goes deeper than unemployment, however; the town was the subject of landmark legal action against the local council for the mismanagement of land reclaimed from those steelworks, once the lifeblood of the community. The “Corby 16”, as they became known, were born with deformed limbs, and as part of the investigation, Neville undertook a multi-faceted project including documentary and staged photographs, scientific research and testimonials that was published as a book in 2011 and sent to local authorities countrywide. The book is not commercially available, but there is an opportunity to see the photographic element of Deeds Not Words at The Photographer’s Gallery, London, between 2nd August and 29th September.

Mark Neville, Deeds Not Words

Mark Neville
Corby Carnival Queens Go Bowling, 2010

Mark Neville, Deeds Not Words

Mark Neville
Irn Bru Display,
Phoenix Park,
Asda, 2010

Mark Neville, Deeds Not Words

Mark Neville
Rockafellas Nightclub,
Princewood Court, 2010

Mark Neville, Deeds Not Words

Mark Neville
McDonalds,
Corporation Street, 2010

Mark Neville, Deeds Not Words

Mark Neville
Adrenalin Alley, 2010

Mark Neville, Deeds Not Words

Mark Neville
Young Highland Dancers,
Corby Highland Games, 2010

Mark Neville, Deeds Not Words

Mark Neville
Corby Highland Dancers Preparing
for Competition, 2010