Jayne Odell FRPS

Jayne Odell FRPS is a black and white photographer based in Suffolk. She holds two Fellowships from The Royal Photographic Society - in Applied photography (2020) and in Documentary (2025). Her competition record includes the RPS World of Sport prize (2016, 'Motion'), the RPS Landscape prize (2017, 'Gentle Woodland'), a PAGB Silver Medal (2013) and Landscape Photographer of the Year shortlistings in 2016 and 2020.

Since moving to Newmarket in 2016 she has documented the town's racing life: her solo exhibition 'Time & Motion: Capturing the Lifeblood of a Racing Yard' ran at the Moller Gallery, National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket in 2022, and her portrait of jockey Khadijah Mellah, 'Owning it', was shown in The Royal Photographic Society Summer Exhibition in Bristol (2023) and its touring edition in Weston-super-Mare (2024). Her FRPS Documentary panel, 'Where the good things grow', records the community of her local allotment site; excerpts are showing at the Newmarket Library Summer Exhibition from 2 July to 2 September 2026. Her work has appeared in the RPS Journal, Black & White Photography, The Racing Post, Thoroughbred Daily News and the East Anglian Daily Times, among others.

Artist Statement

Our allotment site is an enriching place where like-minded folk gather to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. Different characters with their own reason or purpose for taking time to be at one with the earth. Woven together with a shared passion and common intention. A sense of community. A haven of richness for their mental and physical well-being that pivots around the tea shed, where these folk meet, share stories and bond over a well-earned cup of tea.

Over recent years I have photographed this kin, many of whom have become true friends. I've built trust and documented the essence of their growing and social activities, shaping a series of both candid and engaged portraits of the allotment holders engrossed in their endeavours and taking time at their plots and sheds. This series depicts some of these moments of wholesome value.

Jayne Odell FRPS

Artist Statement

Work