\n The exhibition, titled Favourite Things, Favourite Places \u2013 A Snapshot of a Village, was hosted at the Graham Institute in West Linton and featured portraits of residents captured in spaces where they could fully relax.\n<\/p>\n
\n Organised by five photographers \u2013 Lianne Gordon, Niamh Shaw, Erin Weston, Annie Brown and Boyd Wild \u2013 the project took 18 months to complete and aimed to capture a true reflection of village life.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ian Reid, one of the project organisers, said: “Good things come to those who wait, and we have waited for a wee while to create this today.\n<\/p>\n
\n “So first and foremost, thank you so much for coming along.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It’s great to see such a lovely village kind of gathering, which is exactly what we hoped for.\n<\/p>\n
\n “We’re delighted that we’ve arrived at this point. This has been an idea that’s kind of just grown and grown.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Each portrait was taken in the subject\u2019s home, workplace, or another setting where they felt comfortable.\n<\/p>\n
\n Some included cherished objects or personal belongings.\n<\/p>\n
\n The exhibition was made possible by a \u00a33,000 grant from the Co-op Community Fund, which was split equally between West Linton, Carlops, Dolphinton and Newlands.\n<\/p>\n
\n Developed in partnership with the Knot, an idea came about to create a portrait archive of residents in the village.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Wild had previously spoke about the importance of capturing people in their everyday environments.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Graham Institute threw open its doors at the weekend, welcoming dozens in to view the portraits across two days.\n<\/p>\n
\n During the exhibition, he was grateful for the levels of community support.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said: “It becomes a bit of living history.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Like any artist, when you’re holding an exhibition, [you think] ‘is it going to work? Are people going to like it?’\n<\/p>\n