02 Aug 2025
Harpenden Icons – a new photography exhibition reflecting on the town’s many drinking establishments – is on display at the Eric Morecambe Centre.
The project is the work of local photographer and regular St Albans Times contributor Steve Collins, and features images of all the pubs in Harpenden, double-exposed against their nearby adjacent trees.
The double exposure technique – most of which were created in-camera at the time of taking the picture – produces unique and slightly abstract images, which appear fragmented and torn at the edges due to the shape and leaves of the tree which form part of the image.
Steve, who is also chair of Harpenden Photographic Society, said: “I called it ‘Harpenden Icons’, as the pubs and trees are some of the most iconic things you see as you drive
through Harpenden. That has always been true of Harpenden. If you were riding through Harpenden on a horse-drawn charabanc 200 years ago, the trees and pubs would have been key aspects of the town that you would observe.
“Indeed some of the pubs and adjacent trees featured in the exhibition will be the same ones that existed then. A few of the pubs were originally built in the 18th or 19th century or even earlier.”
Steve hopes that the exhibition will help raise awareness of the many beautiful and iconic pubs in the town. “Pubs are the heart of our community, providing a welcoming and familiar environment where people from all walks of life can gather, talk, and connect. This exhibition which celebrates our local pubs, will also include some historic facts, with thanks to Harpenden and District Local History Society, about each of them to provide additional context.
Underlying the exhibition is an important message – many of these iconic pubs are at risk of closing, unless the community continues to support them.”
Steve’s work is already a fixture at the EMC, with six of his images from the Harpenden Icons series now on permanent display in the theatre bar.
The exhibition will be open to the public from throughout the month of August during EMC box office opening hours, 10am-2pm daily.
Opened to the public to view since June, the exhibition boards in the theatre foyer area change monthly and feature the work of local artists and groups.
If you or your group would like to be involved in the exhibition series email katebarton@everyoneactive.com with an expression of interest.
