In the studio: Jon Green on photographing Neotists artists

4 November 2026

When I moved to St Neots a few years ago, I was keen to discover more about the local creative community. That search led me to Neotists and its online members’ directory, which proved a lovely way to find the artists and makers working in and around the town.

I work as a professional photographer, specialising in interiors and product photography for the homewares industry. At the beginning of last year, I decided to expand my portfolio to include portraits of artists, makers and creative people. I spent some time browsing the Neotists website, finding people whose work interested me, and reached out to Emily Jolley and Oliver Winconek to ask whether they would be happy to be photographed in their studio spaces. Both said yes.

I met Emily in her studio, where she carried on working on a piece that involved cutting and shaping glass. I asked her to stand by her glass-cutting area and used the available daylight as my main light source, adding a little fill light to brighten the ceiling and lift some of the darker shadows while keeping the natural feel of the room.

Oliver has since moved to a new studio, but at the time his space was filled with his artwork and the tools and materials of his everyday practice. He was keen to keep working on a commission during the shoot, which gave me the chance to photograph him at work, surrounded by his own creative environment.

For Oliver’s portraits, I built the lighting around the space. I often use portable lights to replicate daylight, particularly in studios with little or no window light. Here, I positioned a light outside the doorway to the right, shaping it as it entered the room and fell across Oliver. This kept the portraits natural while giving me more control over the direction and quality of the light.

Being able to find and connect with local artists through Neotists made this project possible. As a newcomer to the town, it gave me a way in to a creative community I might otherwise have taken years to discover. The portraits have broadened my own portfolio, and the images of Oliver and Emily at work have since been shared on Instagram, showing their studios and processes to a wider audience. It is a small example of how one introduction through a community like Neotists can create something of value for everyone involved.

You can see more of Jon’s work on his website.