Brits in Europe Launches in the Sunday Times Magazine


Kathryn plays the fairy in the Venice pantomime that is put on every two years. She spends her winters in Venice and her summers in Yorkshire. She likes the anonymity that living in a different country brings.
Age: 64

Time living abroad: 8 years
Residence: Venice
Occupation: Retired
In the run up to the EU referendum on the 23rd of June I have been photographing British people living in Europe. The project launches today in the Sunday Times Magazine. 
From Morris dancers in Denmark and archers in Estonia, to students in Spain and pantomime fairies in Italy this project captures the lives of British people who have chosen to leave their homeland and create a new life for themselves. Featuring 71 portraits of British people living in 7 different EU countries the project captures the variety of lifestyles that exist across the continent and shows us a new side of the European debate.
With the prospect of the UK leaving the European Union I was determined to see what life was like for those Brits who live in the EU. Over 1.2 million British people currently live in other EU countries, yet hardly anyone is talking about them. No-one knows what will happen to them should we vote to leave. Will they lose their right to residency? Will they loose their pension? Will they be able to own their own businesses or access healthcare easily?

My hope for the project is to get people to look at the European debate from a different point of view. I want people to move beyond the stereotypes and statistics and see the human stories that will be affected by their decision on the 23rd of June.
Read all the people's stories on the project's website: www.britsineurope.com
Bob brought Morris dancing to Denmark when he moved there 32 years ago. He had to give up his British citizenship to live there permanently and is married to a Dane. 
Age: 70
Time living abroad: 40 years
Occupation: retired
Residence: Silkeborg 


Isla and her brothers moved to Copenhagen when their father got a new job working in the pharmaceutical industry there. They go to international schools and are learning to speak Danish.

Age: 3 years

Time living abroad: 3 years

Occupation: Child

Residence: Copenhagen


Louise is a dancer in the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm. She trained in Britain before finding a job abroad. The company has dancers from all over the world and uses English as it’s primary language.
Age: 29
Time living abroad: 4 years
Residence: Stockholm
Occupation: Ballet Dancer 

Leena moved to Belgium when her husband was given a job in the EU institutions. She says life is more comfortable and relaxed in the international community in Brussels than in London. They are expecting a second child soon so her mother is living with them to help out.

Age: 35


Time living abroad: 5 years

Occupation: Mother

Residence: Brussels

Geoff is the captain of a super-yacht based in Genoa. He spends half his time at sea and the other half with his Italian wife near Lake Garda. His misses British food, particularly in the winter so gets his friend to send him British food parcels.

Age: 63


Time living abroad: 7 years

Occupation: Captain

Residence: Verona and Genoa Harbour

www.britsineurope.com

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