Newcastle photographer is planning a creative hub

Jul 26 2010 by John Hill, The Journal

LEADING advertising photographer Alex Telfer is looking to convert his studio in a former church in Newcastle into a creative hub.

Telfer plans to move his production team into the adjoining house and split the 14,000 square foot Kingsland Church in Byker into spaces for creative businesses. He has been based in Byker since he bought the deconsecrated church in 2005, but his work often takes him away from his base to locations around the world.

He said: “It’s a lovely open plan space, and it’s contemporary but with a real sense of history and character.

“Now we’re having to operate much further afield, this space doesn’t get as much use as it deserves.

“The idea is to move my team into the house and this studio space will remain a communal area which we can use for shoots when we need to.

“But we want to turn the rest into a creative hub for graphic designers, furniture designers or small architecture firms – creative entities that don’t conflict with each other. It would be a cost-effective way for businesses to rent a really unique space.”

Dipton-born Telfer bought the church as his reputation was growing in international advertising. He now has agents in London, Milan, Hong Kong, Paris and New York and has shot campaigns for companies such as Nike, the BBC and Sony Music. His award-winning imagery has been used in drives to cut down knife crime.