Local photographer Beverley Thomas Photography has turned her photographic skills into a fascinating story. Although she tends to specialise in wedding and portraiture work and has featured on many of our wedding planner covers, she also has other interests in different photographic genres, in particular toy photography and her collaboration with the Stuck in Plastic crew.

Beverley tells us a little about how she got involved in this endearing subject matter.

“I started toy photography posting my very first Instagram picture in 2016, whilst studying at university. My peers encouraged me to use Instagram. I didn’t have an account prior to this time. How could I possibly fit Instagram in with studies, a busy work schedule and tutoring? And just what genre would I anticipate posting?

“Going back to teaching young children, which was always a task, I wanted to make them engaged with their subject. A landscape just wasn’t going to get their attention the same way as - bingo! - toys and not just any toys: It had to be LEGO. I routed through my boys’ LEGO boxes and pulled body parts off, added different parts, faces, clothing… and Bevvypix was created and given an identity. It was simple when I look back as I used to play with LEGO as a kid. Then as an adult with my own boys, the subject matter was already there for me. Guess we are really never too old to play.

“Using this little plastic character, I wondered what exactly was I going to do with her? At the time I was studying self-portraiture and therefore, Bevvypix became a representation of myself. I could be in the photograph as an inanimate object and still take the picture as a photographer.”

As she developed a wider interest, she explored using other characters to represent subjects she was researching and using in her teaching role.

Then at the end of 2019, after joining in two yearly themes with Stuck in Plastic, Beverley was approached by the crew to join the creative team. As 2020 approached and the pandemic hit the Arts sector, thus affecting Beverley’s photographic business, she turned her attention to macro photography and continued to develop her creativity, except this time concentrating on toy photography. And to add, her work is now featured on The LEGO Group’s social media platforms.

So, who are Stuck in Plastic?

This creative journey of toy photographers has over the years brought together some very talented toy photographers in a series of fine art exhibitions and toy photography safaris around the world.

Stuck In Plastic today consists of seven core team members from different parts of Europe (also known as the crew) followed by a larger group of creative toy photographers joining the fun at their own pace and leisure.

During 2016, Stuck in Plastic were recognised by The LEGO Group (TLG) for their creative contributions in the AFOL (Adult Fans Of LEGO) world. And to this day they continue to get sets to review from their dear friends over at LEGO.

“As a collective of wannabe grown-ups, we take pictures of toys and explore the whole creative process,” said Beverley, “from ideation, collaboration and creating beautiful images, to storytelling and sharing our work. We engage with our audience and learn from their reactions and feedback, including it in our creative process. We are not just online-hunting for the oh so powerful social media likes and dopamine kicks, we engage in real live exhibitions and pop-up events around the world. From main street art-galleries to geek-filled convention centre’s around the world.”

“Now we are currently exhibiting at The Hermitage-Amsterdam.

“The Hermitage exhibition is based on the Romanovs under the spell of the knights, on the knight’s balcony. The exhibition tells the story about the tsars and knights. On display are more than 250 objects from the collection of medieval art that were previously in the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg. And can be seen until the summer of 2021 in Amsterdam.

“Although six of the crew were unable to attend due to Covid restrictions on travel, we do however have a crew member who could attend in person and she was able to provide us wonderful feedback. Read more at … https://www.stuckinplastic.com/2021/06/stuck-in-plastic-at-the-hermitage/”

Since taking part in this exhibition, Beverley’s thoughts reverted back to the history that surrounds her own town of Pembroke and how Kings and Knights once roamed the land. 

Pembroke Castle sits on the medieval fortress towering above the Pembroke/Penfro River. And as history reveals, one of the most famous Kings was born here, i.e. King Henry VII.

However, this fascinating story began almost 200 years earlier around 1093 when the castle was built as a wooden structure by Arnulf of Montgomery. And between 1102 and 1135, King Henry I squashed a rebellion and seized the castle into Royal possession.

Inspired by the Stuck in Plastic exhibition at The Hermitage, Beverley decided to write A Knights Tale and tell the story of Pembroke Castle as she understood it, by using toy photography to educate her research of who was who, and what happened when. She introduced the Lego Knight minifigures to help represent these historic people, which in turn has put the timeline in order for her and perhaps helped others learn about our wonderful history.

Based on a true story, Beverley tells us about how Richard de Clare (known as Strongbow) was involved in the invasion of Ireland. How William Marshal became the Earl of Pembroke and the reason why Pembroke Castle has a Royal connection.

The whole story of A Knights Tale can be read over on the Stuck in Plastic blog https://www.stuckinplastic.com/2021/07/a-knights-tale/