Celine Marchbank

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In September 2009 my mother, Sue Miles, was diagnosed with lung cancer and a brain tumour. While I was trying to come to terms with the fact she was dying, I decided I wanted, or maybe needed, to document the time she had left. I didn’t want to create a graphic portrayal of her death, it would have been impossible and wrong to focus only on the dying part, but rather I wanted to photograph our last months together. I looked at the things that made her uniquely her, the details in her house I thought I knew so well, the things that would also be gone when she was. Her love of flowers was a beautiful part of her personality; the house was always full of them, and as I photographed them I realised they were symbolic of what was happening - they represented happiness, love, kindness and generosity, but also isolation, decay, and finally death.

I published this project into a photobook with Dewi Lewis Publishing, it was met with widespread acclaim and has been exhibited and published widely nationally and internationally, including being named Photo Book of the Month by Sean O’Hagan in The Observer and Photo Book of The Week by Photo-Eye. 

BBC News - My mother's favourite flower: A life remembered

The Observer - Photobook of the Month: Tulip book review – a daughter’s floral tribute

The Guardian - How I photographed my mother’s last days, written by Homa Khaleeli

British Journal of Photography - Tulip: Quiet Images of a Mother’s Struggle with Cancer

Photo-Eye - Book of The Week - Book of the Week: A Pick by Jordan Sullivan

Photomonitor – Book review by Anna McNay

PhotoVoice - How Photography Helped me: Celine Marchbank

Creative Review: Photography Annual – Feature in Personal Work category

Shutterhub -  Photo books: our latest favourites - Summer 2017

The Guardian In Pictures - Tea, tulips and tenderness: my mother’s final days

Vanity Fair, Italy - I photographed my mother's last days of life

ilPost, Italy - A flower not to forget

L'Oeil de la Photographic - Tulip, My Mother’s favourite flower

Royal Photographic Society - The Tulip Project

The Plus Paper - Love, Loss and Catharsis

The Independent -Celine Marchbank, Tulip: My Mother’s Favourite Flower, book review

TIME Lightbox - Showcase photography projects selected by the Photo Editors at TIME

Vantage - Tulip, My Mother’s Favourite Flower

Workshop X - Celine Marchbank – Tulip

The Times Literary Supplement – Book review


Further images of the book can be seen here



My mothers favourite flower.

My mothers favourite flower.
Post chemo.

Post chemo.
As her mobility declines Mum stays in her room more and more. Her windowsill becomes a substitute for the garden.

As her mobility declines Mum stays in her room more and more. Her windowsill becomes a substitute for the garden.
Late night hospital visits.

Late night hospital visits.
My Mum has the most amazing blue eyes

My Mum has the most amazing blue eyes
Mum insists the hallway light is kept on all night. When she’s in hospital my brother turns it off, and it reminds me of what it might be like without her.

Mum insists the hallway light is kept on all night. When she’s in hospital my brother turns it off, and it reminds me of what it might be like without her.
The garden chairs she never got to use.

The garden chairs she never got to use.
All she felt like eating today.

All she felt like eating today.
Mum spilt her coffee this morning, I felt ashamed taking this photograph. I had to wait for her to leave the room, and then I felt even worse.

Mum spilt her coffee this morning, I felt ashamed taking this photograph. I had to wait for her to leave the room, and then I felt even worse.
Mum never really asks for help, in fact she refuses it. She was determined to try and do as much for herself as possible, and never lets on how hard it is for her.

Mum never really asks for help, in fact she refuses it. She was determined to try and do as much for herself as possible, and never lets on how hard it is for her.
30th September. One year since Mum was diagnosed. Her condition has deteriorated and she’s been admitted to the Marie Curie hospice for two week’s respite care. I worry looking at her empty bed, will she ever come home?

30th September. One year since Mum was diagnosed. Her condition has deteriorated and she’s been admitted to the Marie Curie hospice for two week’s respite care. I worry looking at her empty bed, will she ever come home?
7th October. Last night we were told Mum only has a week to live. Today I looked at the tomatoes we planted together and wondered will she ever see them ripen?

7th October. Last night we were told Mum only has a week to live. Today I looked at the tomatoes we planted together and wondered will she ever see them ripen?
As my Mum lay dying, I thought about whether I wanted to take pictures of her. I didn’t want to show her suffering.

As my Mum lay dying, I thought about whether I wanted to take pictures of her. I didn’t want to show her suffering.


9th October 6am. My Mum died last night. Looking out of her bedroom window, I realise this is the start of the first day of my life without her.

9th October 6am. My Mum died last night. Looking out of her bedroom window, I realise this is the start of the first day of my life without her.
Breakfast with Mum.

Breakfast with Mum.
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