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Model wearing red lilies with orange and yellow make-up, blurred background of Durdle Door in Dorset and a blue sky gradient.

BA (Hons) Commercial Photography graduate celebrates Portrait of Britain win

Photos by Nick Teo

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BA (Hons) Commercial Photography graduate Nick Teo has been named one of the winners for the Portrait of Britain Awards, making the top 100 list for this year’s Volume 7 release.

His winning image, titled The Lily, National Flower of Kazakhstan, stems from his Nature Finds a Way series, an editorial project that adopts the visual motifs of national flowers create a tapestry of migrant voices.

“I feel so honoured and excited to be shortlisted for two years in a row," comments Nick. "The level of talent this competition attracts is absolutely incredible, so when I found out that two of my images were shortlisted this year, and that one of them won, it honestly felt like a 'pinch me' moment!”

Conrad Tracy, Course Leader of BA (Hons) Commercial Photography, also expressed his pride upon hearing of Nick's win.

"We are incredibly proud to see Nick’s work being featured, once again, in the Portrait of Britain Awards. As a student, Nick was always incredibly creative and ambitious, so it is no surprise that he continues to be a photographer who is being recognised in this way.

"As an award, the Portrait of Britain has been a valuable opportunity for BA (Hons) Commercial Photography students, to showcase their work, and gain recognition, so we are not only excited to see Nick amongst the winners, but also alumni Jack Orton and Jacob Cramp."

Nick's unique project took an intentional, personal approach to telling each model’s story. In the winning portrait, Madina is transformed into a lily – the national flower of her home country, Kazakhstan – and poses against the iconic backdrop of Durdle Door.

“The symbolism is simple but powerful," says Nick. "These flowers aren’t native to the UK, but they’ve found a way to thrive here, and to me, that mirrors the experience of migrants.”

For Nick, however, this project isn't only an exploration of the migration stories of others. It was inspired by his own, personal experience of arriving and adapting to living in the UK from Singapore.

“I migrated in 2021, and it was so much harder than I expected. I wasn’t prepared for the financial strain, the culture shock, the racism, or the intense homesickness. Even small things, like figuring out public transport, felt overwhelming. As I worked through these struggles, I realised how many others had similar stories, stories that often go unnoticed.

“That’s when the idea for Nature Finds a Way began to take shape. I held onto it for two and a half years, letting it grow and develop in my mind until I felt ready to do it justice. It became so much more than a creative project – it was my way of honouring the resilience of people who, like me, have found a way to thrive despite the difficulties.”

Nick has seen many previous successes, having been shortlisted for Portrait of Britain’s Volume 6 in 2024, as well as winning Gold at the 2023 Association of Photographers Student Awards for his short film, I AM NOT MY DIAGNOSIS. Since then, his work has evolved dramatically with a continued passion to further explore the human experience.

“At the time, I was still figuring things out," he explains. "I knew I wanted to tell human stories through creative commercial imagery, but I wasn’t entirely sure what that would look like. Over time, I’ve learned so much more, both through my camera and just by living, and that’s reflected in my work. I still aim to advocate for marginalised communities, but now I approach it with a bit more depth and nuance.”

More recently, Nick’s been pushing the boundaries of photography by exploring different mediums and blending genres like documentary, fine art and fashion, as well as adopting new technologies like virtual production and 3D printing.

“It’s been a whole new challenge in itself. My projects have also gotten a lot bigger in scale. Recently, I’ve worked with teams of 20-30 people, which means my role has expanded beyond just being behind the camera to managing people and making sure everyone’s working together to bring the vision to life.”

As part of this continued creative journey, Nick has learnt some valuable lessons about the photography industry and building strong relationships.

“It’s so important to be kind. I know it sounds a bit cliché, but being friendly, approachable, and genuinely caring really does open doors in ways that technical skills alone never could. A successful shoot should leave everyone excited about the outcome, not relieved that it’s over.

“Back in Singapore, I saw how a results-driven mindset often overshadowed the importance of maintaining relationships – I witnessed professional bridges being burned because of it. Since adopting a more people-focused approach here in the UK, I’ve seen my network grow in ways I didn’t think were possible. I managed to rally a team of 30 people on short notice to work on my final major project.

“My advice to other photographers is simple – treat your cast and crew with kindness and respect at every stage of the process. When you prioritise the people behind your vision, they’ll go above and beyond to help you bring it to life.”

This year’s winning images for Portrait of Britain, including Nick Teo’s The Lily, National Flower of Kazakhstan, are currently on digital displays across England throughout this month, in partnership with JCDecaux.

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