“Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion” Oscar Wilde

The Rebellion! touring exhibition opens next at the Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead where it will be shown from 23 October 2026 to 20 February 2027. After that it will go to the Hub at St Mary’s in Lichfield and then to the Workers Gallery in Ynyshir and the Courtyard in Hereford. Discussions are underway about it also going to a gallery in Glasgow in 2028.

‘A hugely powerful and thought-provoking exhibition’

‘Positively provocative’

‘Wonderful imagery and thoughtful messaging – well done!’

‘Interesting to see both ‘sides’ alongside each other. Great photos and message’

Rebellion! is a social documentary photography project which explores protest as an essential part of the cultural identity of Great Britain. The project includes photographs and testimony from protesters as well as from those who may have been targeted by the protests. It explores the social issues around protest, such as the fracturing of social cohesion in blighted post-industrial communities, which fuel dissatisfaction with the status quo. The project has been developed in part as a response to the introduction of draconian anti-protest legislation by successive governments.

The project was completed by Davenant over a period of twelve years and includes three of his winning photographs from the Portrait of Britain competition. The exhibition remains open for new bookings from 2028 onwards and there is no cost to venues other than transport.

In addition to dynamic photography of actual protests, Rebellion! also includes portraits and stories of people at the centre of issues which stimulate protest such as immigration. It is hoped that the inclusion of these images and stories will help foster better understanding and an appreciation that these are individuals rather than statistics. Everyone has a story.

Exhibition details

The Rebellion! touring exhibition has been supported by a grant from Arts Council England