Rollie is a multi-disciplinary artist and photojournalist. Born in the North East of England of South Asian origin and growing up working class through austerity and culture wars, she has a unique perspective on class and race which plays an integral role in how she documents the world around her. Influenced too by experiences of homelessness, Sex work and existing within underground communities and sub-cultures on the fringes of society, her work has a level of authenticity that can’t be imitated. Much of Rollies work captures the unseen and brings to light events and issues that would otherwise be still shrouded in darkness and mystery.

Her work has developed over a number of years, from painting and collage then eventually into Photography and videography. Rollie made the decision to delve into photography while homeless at age 17 after having a few brushes with the law and having witnessed much injustice she thought should have been captured and seen by those outside of her communities. She borrowed just enough money to purchase a second hand camera and began documenting several aspects of her own life. The topics of interest included squats and the wider squatting community, protest and in particular direct action, crime and spaces fuelled by substance abuse. She later began documenting the working class community she grew up in, the rise of fascism across Europe and several other topics. While she does not have any qualifications or formal training in any of her mediums, this hasn’t stopped her from exhibiting in places such as the Royal Society of Art and publishing both photography and writing works across a broad array of international media outlets.

Much of Rollies work is created and curated in a way that avoids further criminalising and ostracising the subjects from society. She has from the beginning prided herself on breaking away from traditional voyueristic photography practices and instead embedding herself fully within the places she chooses to shed light on.