BA (Hons) Photography student Debs has discovered a passion for taking photos at football matches. Her work has been showcased in a range of settings, from exhibitions to news outlets.
Debs, who achieved a first class degree, reflects: “I can’t believe how much my degree has enabled me to develop my skill in such a relatively short space of time, even my peers on the course comment on my growth!
“When looking to come to University, I attended an Open Day and was blown away by the professionalism of the resources available such as the dark room, studios and stores facilities and I had a good chat with Mark Reeves (Lecturer in Photography) and I just loved the whole vibe.”
Since being at University, Debs has attended industry guest lectures and trips to exhibitions. She says: “I've had the opportunity to meet lots of amazing practitioners through talks, exhibitions and trips put on by the university, whilst being encouraged to network more, complete independent study and research and practice skills consistently.”
Debs’ photography specialises in capturing people at large-scale events, with a particular focus on football culture. Through a mix of portrait and candid photography, she captures the passion of the fans, the camaraderie, loyalty, family, rivalry, tribalism and the emotional connections to their clubs.
When speaking about getting into taking photos of football fans Debs said: “Adam Mead, my tutor at university, knew I was a huge football fan and he’d seen some of the photos I took on my phone at the football. He suggested looking at other photographer works such as Richard Davis, Sam Cornish, Jacqui McAssey, and Martin Parr.
"I wouldn’t have contemplated doing this if it wasn’t for him, so once inspired by others work and I started doing it I was soon hooked and found my place.”
"My photography degree has enabled me to become a great photographer, previously I had the basic skills but my learning and development has grown so much that I’m being employed by big organisations such as Walk the Plank, English National Opera, and Bury Art Museum for specialised photo commissions."
— Debra Parr, BA (Hons) Photography student
Bury Art Museum
A career highlight for Debs was when she was commissioned by Bury Art Museum to capture football fan images at Bury FC for a ‘Going to the Match’ exhibition. The exhibition accompanied the LS Lowry painting of the same name which was exhibited from September 2024 to March 2025.
Debs says: “I wouldn’t have got this commission without all my learning, support and growth at University”.
Bury Art Museum also exhibited four of Debs’ Bolton Fems images which was a project Debs did in her second year at University.
Debs explains: “Bolton Fems is a platform dedicated to showcasing the passion, dedication and love of the female fans of Bolton Wanderers FC. Through captivating photography and engaging stories the aim is to highlight the unique experiences and perspectives of women in football culture.
"At Bolton Fems, we believe that the voice and presence of female football fans should be celebrated and amplified. Focused specifically on female Bolton Wanderers fans of all ages and backgrounds, paying attention to and finding out their backstory. The idea is to show that women are just as passionate about football as men.
"Bolton Fems are career women, juggling a career with motherhood, they have disabilities and illnesses which challenge them every day, they are mums, daughters, aunties and grandmas, they are passionate community fundraisers but most of all they love their football club in their hometown.”
Debs has been a Wanderers fan and football fan for over 50 years and is now also the Her Game Too Ambassador for the club. A female fan-led movement that aims to foster an ethos of respect and inclusivity for women across the game.
Bolton Museum
One of Debs’ impactful Bolton Fems images was also on display in an exhibition by British Culture Archive at Bolton Museum.
Bolton News
Debs' ‘Everything but the game’ work was featured in a full page spread and online with the Bolton News. She says: “I’ve enjoyed all the modules at university truthfully, I’ve learned so much from each one but I’ve loved learning dark Room skills and studio skills which I’d never done before and I didn’t even know how to use my camera before I did this degree, now I’m shooting on medium format.
"In the first year, we had to do a project where we took twelve photographs a day over two weeks. Then from that we chose a subject to work on which I started my everything but the game from.”
Hive Arts, Blackpool
Having exhibited several times at Hive Arts, most recently Debs' photography was part of Photopool 24 including the tram stop takeover on Blackpool Promenade, the Get Your Kits Out Festival and the Who Are Ya billboard exhibition in Liverpool City Centre, displaying female football fan portraits.
One is on a tram stop on the Blackpool Promenade and the other one is in Liverpool city along with nine other of Debs' Bolton Fems (portraits of female Bolton Wanderers fans) as part of the get your kits out festival organised by Jacqui McAssey and girlfanzine.
Photo North Festival
'Romance and Rivalry’ is Debs' work on football fan couples who support opposing teams. This was exhibited at Photo North Festival in Leeds. Out of hundreds of entries, Debs came runner up in the student competition at the Photo North Festival with her football project ‘everything but the game’.
Walk the plank and English National Opera
Now, Debs is completing a commission with Walk the Plank and English National Opera, she says: “I was asked to undertake this commission as English National Opera loved my images from the exhibition at Bury Art Museum and contacted me.” The commission is a mass observation project of the effect of opera singers and football fans.
University Degree Show
To complete Debs' brilliant university experience, Debs' exhibited her final year project, 'I am women hear me roar' at the Degree Show, it features nine women who have faced challenges in their lives, but they are still standing strong and they are very resilient.
Debs said: "I wanted to capture them in vulnerable moments, but I hope the images still convey that they are strong, resilient and they are still roaring. I shot the project on medium format film and printed them on matte paper because I wanted the viewer not just to see the women but to feel the depth of what I'm trying to convey in the narrative.
“I am delighted and proud to say that none of these achievements would have been possible without the fabulous photography degree I am undertaking at the University of Central Lancashire and the amazing tutors. My learning and development has reached new heights which has brought me fabulous opportunities to showcase my work. Long may it continue!”