Tulip Siddiq takes break from campaigning at constituent’s exhibition in Queen’s Park

Charles Auto Garage by Elainea Emmott (Image: Archant)

The Labour candidate for the marginal Hampstead and Kilburn seat attended the launch of Elainea Emmott’s Portraits and Places Exhibition at St Anne’s and St Andrew’s church in Salusbury Road last Thursday.

The exhibition is the first for Ms Emmott, who moved to the area from Yorkshire with her autistic teenage son last year.

The 48-year-old took her camera and courage in both hands and began to document people and places in the NW6 area with some pictures taken beyond the postcode.

She said: “I’m a fashion designer and I had that eye for details but I never realised I could take a picture. I told myself ‘woman up girl’ and said to a homeless man, do you mind if I take your picture. That was the first picture of a person I took other than my son.”

She said she met Ms Siddiq at the Queen’s Park Farmer’s Market and emailed her an invitation. She added: “The launch was a fantastic evening, I was really stoked. Some people even bought work.

“It was a lovely personal touch for Tulip to come out in the pouring rain in support of women in business like me.

“It’s not easy to start out on a new career with a child and being a divorced mum. She’s definitely got my vote.”

Ms Siddiq and her team have been on the doorstep every day since the election was called for June 8. She said: “The general election campaign may be in full swing, but I was determined to find time to celebrate Elainea’s fantastic photography.

“Her Portraits and Places exhibition offered an inspiring documentation of life in NW6, and I was only too keen to support her by attending the launch in Queen’s Park. “I am always happy to celebrate the achievements of local residents and this provided the perfect opportunity to do so, even if it meant putting aside campaigning for a few hours.”

The next opening with Ms Emmott present is on Saturday from 10am-12pm. The exhibition ends June 18.