The photographer Tish Murtha (1956-2013) is the subject of a wonderful new documentary film Tish released in selected UK cinemas over the weekend.

Her best-known work from the late-1970s and early 80s was rooted in the communities where she grew up in and around Newcastle.

“The Official Website of Tish Murtha” is a good place to start if you wish to view examples of her photography and learn more about her life and work.

http://www.tishmurtha.co.uk/home.html

Following Tish’s death in 2013, her daughter Ella has made it her mission to share that photography with as wide an audience as possible.

As a result, photographs from “Elswick Kids” (1978), “Juvenile Jazz Bands” (1979) and “Youth Unemployment” (1981) are now part of the permanent collection at Tate Britain in London.

Ella plays a key role in Tish interviewing family, friends and documentary photographers about the woman she refers to throughout as “my mam.”

The resulting film tells a haunting and moving story and is one that I would thoroughly recommend seeking out if it visits a cinema near you.

https://www.modernfilms.com/tish/#tishcinemas

The screening I attended at the Tyneside Cinema in the heart of Newcastle ended with a spontaneous round of applause from the appreciative audience.

It was totally justified.

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