Charlie Clift photographs Brits in Europe ahead of EU Referendum

Date
20 June 2016

London-based photographer Charlie Clift has a fascination with Brits abroad, creating a series characterised by sunburn, beer bellies and loud shirts of the same name back in 2013. It seemed fitting that ahead of the EU Referendum this week that he should expand the project out of Spain, where it all started, and across the whole continent to showcase the British folk who’ve taken advantage of free movement and set up new lives elsewhere in Europe.

“I love Europe but wanted to see it through the eyes of British people who have decided to make it their home,” says Charlie. “I visited six extra EU countries and photographed over 50 more Brits who had decided to move to the continent. I really hope that it will get people to think about Europe from a different viewpoint, that it will help them to move beyond the stereotypes and statistics and see some of the human stories that will be affected by their decision on 23 June."

Among those featured in the series are archers in Estonia, Morris dancers in Denmark, pantomime fairies in Venice and school children in Spain.

Charlie says: “No one knows what will happen to them should we vote to leave. Will they lose their right to residency? Will they lose their pension? Will they be able to own a businesses or access healthcare? How much will their lives be forced to change?”

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Charlie Clift: Bob, Denmark

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Charlie Clift: Geoff, Italy

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Charlie Clift: Isla, Denmark

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Charlie Clift: Louise, Sweden

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Charlie Clift: Peter, traveling around Spain and France

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Charlie Clift: Leena, Belgium

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Charlie Clift: John, Genoa

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Charlie Clift: Lindsey, Italy

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Charlie Clift: Chris, Estonia

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Charlie Clift: Jo, Denmark

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About the Author

Emily Gosling

Emily joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in the summer of 2014 after four years at Design Week. She is particularly interested in graphic design, branding and music. After working It's Nice That as both Online Editor and Deputy Editor, Emily left the company in 2016.

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