Meet the fabulous faces of our diverse city

If you count those who travel into the city to work or play then that number very quickly multiplies.

But Danny Fitzpatrick believes he has captured the spirit of the city by photographing just a handful of selected special individuals.

Part of the Brighton Fringe, Faces of Brighton is a collection of 23 pictures of key people who make the city such a special place.

Some of the names you will recognise, such as Caroline Lucas MP or musician Norman Cook.

But hanging alongside their portraits are images of the less well known, such as Steven, who does the maintenance at the Royal Pavilion; or John, who has been sleeping rough for the last three years.

They are all on display in perhaps the most public gallery the city has, the concourse of Brighton Station.

Danny, who moved to the city from Croydon 13 years ago, started the project alongside his day job as a commercial photographer.

"I originally hoped to do one portrait a week for a year but it was taking weeks, sometime months to track down people." he said.

"I thought there was no way I was going to get 52 portraits out of this and scaled back and focussed on the people I wanted.

"It's been a real adventure." 

His journey has taken him to Norman Cook's home, behind the scenes at the Theatre Royal and driving Caroline Lucas into the woods.

"I didn't just want it to be my people," he said. "I wanted people to put suggestions forward and saying 'have you heard of so and so'.

"It's been so much fun meeting those people and having a reason to go and talk to them."

Perhaps his favourite picture though is of Mim, who is more commonly known as the queen of the mermaids.

"It's a great picture," Danny said. "But it was really difficult to do as the tide was coming in fast and the mirror we used kept on being knocked over."

But he said the most difficult was The Naked Bike Ride, because of all the flesh on show.

"People are amazed I've got just a few bums in," he jokes. "They ask me if it's photoshopped."

Danny said he was also really pleased to have featured Disco Pete, who was added a week after the exhibition opened at the start of May for Brighton Fringe.

"Everyone knows of him but nobody knows how to get hold of him," he said.

"I got a call from his daughter and went straight round to his place. The picture was then sent to the printers and within a couple of days it was in place.

"It's great to have him in there as he is a real Brighton legend."

And as for the reaction?

"It's been great. I'm getting emails from complete strangers saying they have seen a new picture every time they have walked past. Others give me more suggestions so I hope it can continue into a second series."

Faces of Brighton runs at Brighton Station until June 5.

For more details visit dfphotography.co.uk

EIGHT OF THOSE FEATURED

Lee-Or Atsmon Fruin

Brighton has long been a hub for artists and creative types. Lee-Or is a professional illustrator whose work has been published in many magazines, children’ books and adverts.

John Carey

There are often up to 100 people sleeping rough in Brighton and Hove and nearly 21,000 families on the council waiting list for a home. John Carey has been homeless for three years after his home burnt down in a fire caused by a candle.

Yvo Luna

Yvonne (Yvo) Luna is one of a handful of crazy folk who brave the seas every morning, while most of us are still sleeping, for a quick swim no matter what the weather.

Norman Cook

Norman Cook

Norman Cook is responsible for putting on the infamous Big Beach Boutique – the epic beach party that could only ever have happened in Brighton.

Nick Sayers

Nick Sayers

Nick Sayers organises Brighton annual Naked Bike Ride. The event celebrates bikes and bodies, protests against car culture and demonstrates cyclists’ power and vulnerability.

Mim King

Mim King

Mim King, a well-known face about Brighton is an artist, a performer and the official Queen of the Mermaids!

Billie Lewis

Billie Lewis

Every year Brighton hosts the spectacularly flamboyant Pride festival. Billie Lewis is the access and inclusion manager for the UK’s largest (and most fabulous) Pride festival.

Caroline Lucas MP

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion

She may not be your typical MP and she may not ‘fit in’ with most of the grey suits of Westminster but Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion is the first and only Green member of parliament.