Award-winning photographer Keiran Perry offers an intimate look into a world rarely seen in Smoke Filled Mirror, his debut photobook published by New Dimension and Pendle Press. Drawing comparisons to the works of Rob Hornstra, Chris Killip, and Alec Soth, Perry’s images capture a makeshift family of performers, bound by resilience, hardship and mutual support as they journey across the UK’s northern landscapes.

Smoke Filled Mirror transcends traditional documentary photography. Perry does not merely observe; he becomes fully immersed in the lives of the communities he documents, forging lasting relationships that continue beyond the lens. His approach goes far beyond that of a typical photographer who completes a project and moves on. With the travelling circus, Perry’s commitment grew into a profound personal journey that still resonates within him today. He remains deeply connected to the circus community and the intentional, alternative communities he has worked with in other long-term projects.

The book is a transformative documentation of Perry’s two-year immersion with a multicultural circus troupe he first encountered in Morecambe, Lancashire. Stranded due to the pandemic, the performers became a source of fascination and inspiration for Perry, who embedded himself in their world. Through stark, textured visuals and moments of raw magical realism, Perry explores themes of belonging, human connection, and the enduring power of community amidst a landscape of isolation.

During his time with the circus, Perry found himself on a profound spiritual and shamanic journey, leading him to live in an off-grid community in Scotland’s Highlands. Here, his exploration of alternative living deepened, offering insights into the complexities of human connection and resilience.

Keiran Perry reflects:

“…quiet observation led me to a state of fierce presence. I sat in-between the moments, in a place of liminality. From that place, reality becomes more lucid, you feel more alive and wake-up to the magic around you, rather than thinking, you are simply experiencing. The circus became a mirror for my own journey, where the boundaries between life and performance, people and place, artist and audience, dissolve and reveal a shared sense of humanity.”

With over 100 photographs across 160 pages, Smoke Filled Mirror invites readers into a world where trapeze artists double as cooks, welders, and relentless grafters. Perry’s work connects interior and exterior worlds, documenting a nomadic life that is at once grounded in tradition and reinvented daily.

The book also includes a transcript of conversations with Perry, providing further depth and context to his journey. In Smoke Filled Mirror, Perry’s style resonates with the storytelling sensibilities of Hornstra, Killip, and Soth, blending portraiture with a unique, ongoing commitment to the communities he photographs.

Smoke Filled Mirror is available to order from the New Dimension website and will be officially released in early 2025. The project will debut with an exhibition at Season 4 Episode 6 in London, launching on March 14th, 6 PM – 9 PM, and continuing until March 19th.

About Keiran Perry

Keiran Perry is a London-based, award-winning photographer, recognised by the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize and as a 2024 and 2025 Portrait of Britain winner. Known for his immersive approach to documenting community and alternative ways of living, Perry’s work blends interior and exterior worlds, capturing moments of magical realism. His two-year journey with a travelling circus, documented in Smoke Filled Mirror, reflects his deep interest in belonging, human connection, and the spiritual dimension of life. Perry continues to maintain relationships with the communities he documents, including the circus and off-grid communities he lived with in Scotland.

About New Dimension

New Dimension is an independent publishing house based in London, collaborating with artists to produce works that capture unique perspectives on contemporary life and culture. Founded in 2023, New Dimension is committed to producing high-quality photobooks, monographs, and zines that push boundaries and connect audiences.

About Pendle Press

Pendle Press is a collective redefining independent publishing. Founded in 2021 by Sherif Dhaimish, we specialise in uncovering and amplifying stories that challenge the mainstream narrative.

For more information and to order Smoke Filled Mirror, visit new-dimension.net.