Expats

"Another Country" is the first book of photographs devoted to the British in France by Rip Hopkins. Of his work he says: "I find myself behaving differently when speaking each language. In English, I am calmer than in French. I often catch myself suppressing emotions, whereas in French I let them go. Discussions in English tend to be pragmatic and an outcome is expected, while in French, issues tend to be abstract and I toy with ideas with no real conclusion in mind. Hence, I can be more British in English and more French in French."
You can find more info & purchase the book here and here. His portraits are outstanding in that you can really "see" and the other person.


"I’ve spent all my life trying to run away from myself": Joel Thomas Grant (32) left his home in Bath at the age of 15 and ran away to live here in 1992. Adopted by both British and French communities, he is known as Joël by the French and Tom by the British. He is a builder most of the time. Bogs (9) is half Beauceron, half Rhodesian Ridgeback. He wants to stay.



"I can’t help thinking that life may be better in England" : Jeanne Chapman came from Abu Dhabi in 1997. Prior to that she lived between London and West Africa. Jeanne was a dancer with the Ballet Rambert. She might go back to England.



"It doesn’t matter where you go, you always take yourself": Aaron Blond (47) came in 1986 from Norfolk. He previously worked with his father in the family publishing company and is now a builder. He doesn’t know whether he will go back.




"We make our own life": Peter Whitehouse (76) has had holiday houses in the area with his partner Ted Moore for over 30 years. Growing up in London and Surrey, he then lived and worked with Ted as an architect in Lagos, Nigeria from 1956, before settling here permanently in 2005. Rain (11) is an Italian Greyhound, Dune (12) is a Saluki, and Wallis (11) is a Pug inherited from their friend, Eric Boyes. They are all here to stay.



"Travel broadens your horizons": Graeme Wallace (48) grew up in Aberdeen and came here from Tripoli, Libya in 2007. He lives and works in the Château Mas de Montet with his partner Richard Stimson. He previously taught English and worked in various places around the world, especially in the Middle East. He will play it by ear over whether or not he stays, but in the unlikely event of leaving, he would return either to Britain or Libya.