Evie Mundy

What's your biggest career highlight so far?

I've worked with incredible brands such as Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Weleda, La Gioiosa and been paid to eat at Michelin-star restaurants and shoot in Spain and Italy. But honestly? My biggest highlight is the freedom I've built for myself. Being self-employed and choosing who I work with is something I'm incredibly proud of.

How did Solent prepare you for the real world?

Solent helped me build a CV full of real experience that boosted both my confidence and my professional skills. Highlights include volunteering for the Caravan Gallery's touring exhibition and the Pride of Place Project, plus two years working as a studio and darkroom supervisor at the University.

Walk us through your three favourite projects from your time at Solent

Burnt Away was from my first year. I burnt away the face in the image to force you to see it differently — it questions the very material nature of photography itself.

Family Frames, from second year, explored how photography and memory connect through the family archive. I sliced and reformed my dad's old film negatives to create these fascinating constructs.

Vision, my third-year project, examined photography's relationship to sight and the eye as a camera. Shot on film and developed in the colour darkroom using multiple techniques, the shape references digital retinal photography.

What made your lecturers stand out?

I always left lectures feeling genuinely inspired. They mentored me through my dissertation on a topic I was passionate about, and their support was invaluable. I'm still really proud of that dissertation. It pushed me further than I expected.

What's your favourite Solent memory?

The Berlin trip, without a doubt, especially visiting the Bauhaus. But really, it was just having a proper laugh with the tutors. Those moments remind you that the people around you are just as important as the work you're making.

What's your number one piece of advice for anyone wanting to break into the industry?

Don't box yourself in too early. I had a very fixed idea of what my future would look like, and when it didn't happen immediately I felt like a failure. It took time to realise that opportunities rarely arrive the way you expect, and that's actually a good thing.

And finally — your top tips for anyone serious about a career in photography?

Immerse yourself completely. Read books, seek out articles, stay across what's happening in the art world and never, ever stop making work. Curiosity and consistency are everything in this industry. The more you put in, the more you'll get back.

Photography is my way of questioning life, society, the way we see things. It takes the everyday and makes it extraordinary. It's not just about capturing moments, it's about challenging how we look at the world and asking deeper questions about what we see and why.