A MULTIMEDIA exhibition documenting the rich and varied lives of seafarers living and working in Pembrokeshire opened in Milford Haven this week.

‘Living by the sea’ features work from AS Level photography students from Milford Haven School and Pembroke School, created over six weeks in October and November last year.

Commissioned by the Port of Milford Haven as part of Seafarers Awareness Week - the annual campaign to raise awareness of Britain’s dependence on seafarers - the exhibition showcases 15 portrait photographs, accompanied by a soundscape weaving together the stories of those who have spent their lives at sea.

The exhibition as opened on Thursday, January 10, by Bill Hurst, Harbourmaster for the Port of Milford Haven.

Guy Norman from spacetocreate community arts, who worked on the project with local community film-maker Sharron Harris, said: “A fantastic group of AS level photography students had an opportunity to learn about studio portrait photography by working on a real life commission.

“Over six weeks the group learned new skills and then put them into practice by interviewing and photographing a crew of 15 Pembrokeshire seafarers who had all volunteered their time to get involved.

“From the life of a Tug master in the Haven through to one of the last 12 licensed Coracle fishermen working on the Teifi, the stories that were recorded provided an amazing insight into the varied lives of those working at sea, including a dramatic account of a shipwreck that wouldn’t be out of place in a Hollywood film.”

One of the artists at the opening was 16-year-old George Parfitt, from Pembroke School.

George said he had been able to improve his knowledge of photography through the project.

“I like using film cameras, and experimenting with what I can do,” he said.

His subject for the project was Len Walters, a fisherman from Cardigan.

The project also involved Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, which is based in Milford Haven.

The exhibition will be run at the Oriel Joanna Field Gallery, at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, until January 31.