Jo Sutherst

I am a part-time distance PhD student based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK researching the role of the selfie process in the construction and communication of identity on social media and how artists use social media platforms to craft narratives of identity.

As a professional photographer and former secondary school teacher in Design and Technology, I decided in 2019 to undertake my PhD and extend my MA Photography research “Fractured Identities” which used performance, self-portraiture, a series of often comical props, and cosmetics to explore the world of the media generated selfie. The project is available at http://www.fractured-identities.co.uk/

I thoroughly enjoy being the co-ordinator and a facilitator for the PGR Study Space group, as well as attending other sessions to motivate me and to help increase my productivity. This group of supportive and encouraging PGRs has been influential in helping me to progress: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/doctoralcollege/researcherdevelopment/training/pgrstudyspace/

In addition, as a HASS Research Culture Assistant I have facilitated a series of hybrid and online writing retreats for PGRs across the university during 2023 and 2024.

I helped launch and was the co-editor of the HASS Research Culture blog in 2024: https://sites.exeter.ac.uk/hasspgrblog/

You can follow me on Twitter @JoSutherst and Instagram @jo_sutherst_photography. You can also view my website at www.josutherstphotography.co.uk

Biography:

CV

2018: Royal Photographic Society

Awarded distinction Associate of Royal Photographic Society (ARPS)

2016-2018: Falmouth University

MA Photography - Distinction

2012-2013: University of Gloucestershire

Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies

2009-2010 University of Gloucestershire and GITEP

PGCE Secondary (Design and Technology)

1986-1991: Brunel University

BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Academic Achievements

July 2019 Awarded Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to the Student Experience for MA Photography, Falmouth University

Research supervision:

Supervisory Team

Professor Gabriella Giannachi and Professor David Houston Jones