Where I Come From

A new exhibition of photographs by Bill Knight - celebrating immigration in Britain – opens today
at Hiscox’s City office

London (6th June 2017) – A new exhibition by London-based portrait and theatre photographer Bill Knight, Where I Come From, shows children of a generation of immigrants who came to Britain in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

The exhibition is inspired by the parents of graduates from Rare Recruitment’s ‘Target Oxbridge’. Showing a variety of young people, Knight’s photographs capture the young men and women with their parents and the people who have influenced their lives. Behind each picture there is a story of how and why they came to Britain, the lives they left behind and the life they established in the UK, in the hope of better prospects for their family’s future.

Bill Knight said, “Sometimes a smile hides a story of hardship, or the search for equal opportunity and belonging. These parents now watch as their children take advantage of the opportunities denied to them.

“The young men and women I have photographed are changing Britain, just as Britain has changed their families. What happens next? The pictures don't say, but this is an optimistic exhibition for a pessimistic time.”

Many of these young people are university educated and work in the City of London as lawyers, accountants, bankers or analysts. Others are teachers, actors, consultants, civil servants or post graduate students.

Bronek Masojada, Hiscox Group CEO and sponsor of the exhibition, was born in South Africa and comes from Polish emigres. He commented: “I am a proud immigrant, and the child of an immigrant. The winds of war swept my father to South Africa where he created a new beginning. My wife and I have done the same in coming to Britain. Anyone who comes to this country to work hard, better themselves and this country, are people worth celebrating.

“These photos capture the pride of the immigrant generation in the success of their children in the country they have made their home. I particularly like our CFO, Aki Hussain’s story which features in the exhibition.”

The exhibition runs from 6th June to 29th September 2017 at the Hiscox Art Café, 1 Great St Helen's, London EC3A 6HX. The exhibition is open to the public between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Friday.

Ends

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Notes to editors

About Bill Knight
Bill Knight OBE is a photographer specialising in portraits, theatre and opera. His portrait of Elspeth Juda from his exhibition 'The Refugee's Gift' was chosen for the collection at the National Portrait Gallery. ‘Vanessa and Vivian’ from this exhibition was a winner in the Portrait of Britain competition in 2016.
He is a former lawyer and deputy chairman of Council at Lloyd's of London.

About Hiscox
Hiscox is a global specialist insurer, headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX). Our ambition is to be a respected specialist insurer with a diverse portfolio by product and geography. We believe that building balance between catastrophe-exposed business and less volatile local specialty business gives us opportunities for profitable growth throughout the insurance cycle. It’s a long-standing strategy which in 2016 helped generate gross premiums written of £2,402.6 million and a record profit before tax of £354.5 million.

The Hiscox Group employs over 2,300 people in 13 countries, and has customers worldwide. Through the retail businesses in the UK, Europe and the US, we offer a range of specialist insurance for professionals and business customers as well as homeowners. Internationally traded, bigger ticket business and reinsurance is underwritten through Hiscox London Market and Hiscox Re and ILS.

Our values define our business, with a focus on people, quality, courage and excellence in execution. We pride ourselves on being true to our word and our award-winning claims service is testament to that. For more information, visit www.hiscoxgroup.com

About Rare’s Target Oxbridge
Target Oxbridge is a free programme that aims to help black students and students of mixed race with black heritage increase their chances of getting into the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge (known collectively as Oxbridge).

Rare is passionate about creating a more equal society. They believe that if more black people get into Oxbridge, more black people will reach the top of our society. Target Oxbridge is their contribution to making that happen.

To find out more, click here.