We asked Kevin a few questions about volunteering at the Cathedral and becoming a BRILLIANT Artist for Lumiere 2025.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a retired local government officer who volunteers with the Cathedral. I came to the north-east 40 years ago to go to college and have lived and worked in Durham for over 30 years.
I’m married to my wife Linda, and we have a son, Elliot and a daughter, Evie and two dogs, Popcorn and Pretzel.
I retired last year and now spend my time helping out in the Cathedral Shop and the Marketing team and indulging my hobby of photography. I’m a member of Durham Photographic Society and the Northern Echo Camera Club and have recently started to exhibit some of my images.
Why did you apply to be a BRILLIANT artist?
I love Lumiere and what it does for our city. I used to do bits and bobs supporting the festival when I worked for Durham County Council and when they introduced the BRILLIANT scheme, I thought 'I fancy having a go at that'. This is the seventh time I’ve applied to BRILLIANT and I am chuffed to bits to have been selected.
You volunteer at Durham Cathedral, tell us a bit about your role?
I do a couple of things with the Cathedral. I help out in the shop, volunteering alongside Ann and Kitty. We staffed the pop-up shop we have had in the museum this year for the Sanctuary and Magna Carta and the North exhibitions.
I also help the Marketing team, where I’m able to indulge my interest in photography. I’ve helped to organise their image database and take photographs for them for particular projects. I’ve taken photographs of the building through the different seasons, of visitors and school holiday activities and I got to shoot a candlelight concert last Christmas which was really interesting.
Why did you decide to volunteer at Durham Cathedral?
When I worked at Durham County Council, I did a few things with the cathedral and always found the people here to be really helpful and friendly.
I always said to myself that when I retired, I’d enquire about volunteering. I had always worked with people and as part of teams, so was a bit apprehensive about how I would feel when I retired and no longer had the social interaction you got in a large organisation, like the council. So I was looking for something where I could meet and work with people and volunteering with the cathedral, seemed to fit the bill.
What was your favourite Lumiere artwork from over the years?
I loved the LED dresses from the very first festival in 2009. Another favourite was the neon bikes a few years later, because they reflected life in the city. And the smashed glass cosmos in St Oswald’s Church was really special, as it was the first time I had actually been into that church.
What artwork are you most looking forward to seeing this year?
‘Run Beyond’ looks as if it will be fun. ‘A Light Still Shines’ will be pretty poignant.
And since this is sadly going to be the very last edition of Lumiere in the city, the photography exhibition at the Dead Dog Gallery will be important as it will celebrate all that the festival has done for the city over the past 15 years.
