CLARE HUGHES
Autistic Photographer & Participatory Arts Facilitator
Clare Hughes is a late-diagnosed autistic professional photographer based in Sussex, England, working across contemporary photography, participatory practice, and facilitation.
Her work draws on historical archives to explore personal identity, neurodiversity, and women’s health, with a focus on ethical, inclusive storytelling.
Clare works with individuals, schools, charities, and institutions to deliver neurodiverse-friendly photography and participatory workshops, using photography as a cathartic and empowering tool.
Grounded in the PhotoVoice methodology, her projects prioritise consent, accessibility, and lived experience, and culminate in public outcomes such as exhibitions, giving participants ownership and visibility.
As an autistic woman with dyslexia and dyspraxia, Clare brings lived understanding to every collaboration. Her approach creates a safe, flexible, and affirming environment, where photography is not just about representation, but about celebrating difference and preserving authentic self-expression.
BOOK A WORKSHOP
Open up possibilities for participants and the organisations that support them.
Individuals can flourish in a participatory workshop by feeling empowered through creative activity in a psychologically safe space. When self-expression can sometimes be limited, a creative workshop can provide opportunities for alternative ways to communicate.
As an organisation you can use a creative workshop to break down barriers to understanding and improve empathy in an informal group setting. This is a proven method of driving positive change and producing creative outcomes that can benefit morale and support networks.
BOOK A PORTRAIT SESSION
For a professional headshot or personal portrait you can be proud of.
Being neurodivergent, Clare recognises the challenges involved with personal identity such as dysmorphia and masking. It can make a simple portrait a very big deal:
“Inclusivity is at the heart of what I do. I strive to create a welcoming and understanding environment for all my clients.
Whatever the brief, it’s about more than just understanding neurodiversity; it’s about celebrating it. It’s about capturing the unique ways in which you experience and express yourself and preserving these moments in beautiful photographs.”
HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP?
Confidently tell your story by booking a professional photographer.
Clare has worked with many companies and organisations to capture their values in shareable images.
Get in touch to discuss your options and rates.