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Artists In Residence

Yan Wang Preston

Dr Yan Wang Preston stands confidently in bright colourful clothing, with a historical large format camera in front of a mossy wall at RHS Bridgewater.

Dr Yan Wang Preston is a multi-award-winning visual artist and photographer who is passionate about the natural world and our positions within it.

She has completed many challenging projects, including photographing the entire 6,211km Yangtze River in China at 100m intervals for Mother River (2010–2014), and walking to and photographing the same heart-shaped rhododendron bush on the South Pennine Moors every other day over an entire year for With Love. From an Invader. (2020–2021).

Wang Preston’s projects are internationally and critically acclaimed. She was the recipient of the inaugural RPS Award for Environmental Responsibility in 2023. She won 1st Prize in Professional Landscape, Sony World Photography Awards (2019); 1st Prize in Professional Commission, Syngenta Photography Prize (2017); and the Shiseido Photographer Prize at the Three Shadows Photography Annual Award in Beijing, China (2016). She was one of the Hundred Heroines awarded by the Royal Photographic Society in 2018.

Socially Engaged Artist Residencies

Three socially-engaged photographers have been appointed as part of OFFSHOOT. The project, which draws together creativity, wellbeing and nature, pairs the artists with local communities to develop new skills and creativity through photography.

Anoosh Ariamehr

Anoosh Ariamehr working with two community members, surrounded by plants and flowers.

Currently studying on the joint Socially Engaged Practice MA at the University of Salford School of Art, Media and Creative Technology with Open Eye Gallery, Ariamehr has been working on site at the RHS Garden Bridgewater since late Summer 2025.

“I’m Anoosh Ariamehr, a socially engaged photographer/ community artist and creative writer. My work weaves together storytelling and visual practice, especially with refugee and displaced communities, to explore themes of identity, belonging, home and untold stories that often go unheard. I believe photography isn’t just about images, but about connection, collaboration and giving space to voices that matter.

Through the RHS Community Garden residency, I’m excited to explore how people’s relationships with nature can heal, connect and empower. Working alongside diverse community groups in the gardens, I believe photography becomes a means of both reflection and transformation-offering space for individuals to express their connection to the natural world, and helping all of us to see our surroundings, and each other, with renewed care.”

Liz Lock

A portrait of Liz Lock, a white woman with blond shoulder length hair, stood in fronts of trees in soft focus.

Liz Lock, was appointed in August 2025 following an open call. Liz, a Greater-Manchester based practitioner, specialises in photography, portraiture, book-making, and community and socially engaged practice. Liz will develop an ongoing partnership between the University of Salford and Salford Youth Service.

“I’m a photographer who enjoys documenting the lives of people in and around the North West of England and the landscapes they inhabit. I especially love working with portraiture and see it as a chance to spend a unique moment with someone.”

“I’m very excited to be selected for this opportunity to work alongside young people in Salford. Much of my work already focuses on what it’s like to be a young person today and I can’t wait to start running the photography and storytelling workshops with Salford Youth Service”.

Fiona Robinson

Fiona Robinson holds a camera, with the lens in focus.

A graduate of the Joint social engaged practice MA , Robinson has also been in post at RHS Garden Bridgewater since late Summer 2025, working with the gardens’ wellbeing and community groups including participants attending on socially-prescribed programmes.

“After studying Ecology and working in environmental conservation, community development and public health for about 30 years, I’m now concentrating on my socially engaged photography practice. I’ve a particular interest in creating opportunities for people to explore the natural world, and in environmentally sustainable and historic photographic techniques.

I’m really excited to be part of the OFFSHOOT residency programme, as working with the wellbeing garden brings together all of the different strands of my varied career to date. It’s such a beautiful space, and the staff, volunteers and community members create such a calming atmosphere.”