During the 2016 ‘Brexit Referendum’ to decide whether the U.K. should remain in the European Union, England’s ‘economic north’ rallied behind the stronger Leave campaign. It was a clear expression of anger – a form of blind defiance; a form of mutiny, one might say, even against its own interests.

In 2017 I embarked on a journey through the economic north of the UK. Originally from the West Midlands, I have lived in the Netherlands for most of my adult life. Driven by curiosity to understand the divisions in the UK made evident in the 2016 referendum, I returned there to photograph, revisiting the previously familiar with the eyes of an outsider. What I found in over 60 towns and cities from Aberdeen to Bangor, Blackpool to Belfast, and from Fife to Skegnes, was a country frozen in time. Whilst London had flourished the communities of the economic north were left behind. Cities once full of factories were filled with foodbanks, barbershops and fading hopes. And yet within the urban infrastructure of boarded-up shopfronts and rainy streets, canals and bright seafront businesses, the people I captured often demonstrated their humour, warmth, fortitude, and community.

Reviews…

  • “…echo the seaside images of Martin Parr, but without the end-of-pier nostalgia. In Mutiny, chip shops are cheerless; deck chairs are stacked under graphite skies. Humour is present, but it’s pitch black.”

    Financial Times

  • “As Daleman passes through towns such as Bridlington, he captures people demonstrating humour, warmth, fortitude and a sense of community”

    The Guardian

  • “…Daleman’s images, while unflinching in their depiction of economic decline, also capture moments of humour, warmth and resilience among the people he met. He might possess an outsider’s eye, but he was guided above all by a sense of empathy and familiarity.”

    Creative Review

  • “Daleman’s quiet, observational images balance scenes of hardship with moments of humour, dignity, and resilience, offering a nuanced portrait of communities often overlooked in national narratives.”

    About Photography

  • “The people captured as Daleman passes through are often shown demonstrating their humour, warmth, fortitude and community.”

    All About Photo

  • “Often passing through on foot, he captures fleeting moments of humour, warmth, and endurance—signs of life persisting amid boarded-up shopfronts and rain-soaked streets.”

    Flux Magazine

  • “Filled with imagery illustrating economic hardship, from empty funfairs to rows of shuttered and abandoned buildings, the book is also filled with moments of Martin Parr-esque surreality and absurdism…”

    HUCK magazine

Mutiny by Merlin Daleman Mutiny by Merlin Daleman Mutiny by Merlin Daleman
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My images tell the story of a fractured Britain. The towns and cities that voted for Brexit in 2016 were in my view an act of defiance against a system that ignored them. This is the Britain that London often forgets…. I seek to reflect the frustration and resilience of those who have been left behind, highlighting the social and economic fractures that challenge the idea of a "united" United Kingdom. I strive to tell the story of a divided nation—and a story of resilience.

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