In 2023, Just Stop Oil intensified its campaign across the UK, using acts of civil disobedience to force attention onto the climate crisis. Through slow marches and high-profile public disruptions, the movement aimed to expose government inaction and provoke urgent dialogue. These protests affected over 700,000 drivers and cost the Metropolitan Police more than £20 million, sparking national debate.
This series documents the people behind the headlines — the faces in the marches, the moments of confrontation, and the quiet resolve of those willing to risk arrest for a cause they believe in. With over 700 arrests and growing legal pressure, including prison sentences for non-violent actions, the protests also raised international concern over civil liberties and the right to dissent.
This project is not about taking sides. It’s about documenting a moment where climate, conflict, and public voice collide — and asking what it means to demand change.
Winning Image
Recipient of the 'Best News Single' Award from Falmouth University, judged by South West News Service.
These photographs were taken during a Just Stop Oil protest on Holloway Road, London — a day marked by intense clashes between protesters, the public, and police. The images capture the raw emotion and tension at the center of a growing movement, exposing not only the desperation surrounding the climate crisis but also the increasing restrictions placed on those who speak out.
This collection highlights the dual struggle — the fight against environmental collapse and the parallel fight for the right to protest it. It is a record of courage, conflict, and civil resistance in a time of political and planetary urgency.
The work was exhibited at The Chintz in Falmouth, Cornwall, in February 2024.
