Stephen JB Kelly was born in West Cumbria, England. He spent his early childhood in Africa and the Middle East before moving to Hong Kong where he lived for ten years. Stephen returned to the UK to study, gaining a BA (Hons) degree in Documentary Photography from the University of Wales, Newport.

Stephen has won a number of awards for his work, including the Gareth Jones Memorial Travelling Scholarship, the Observer David Hodge Photographic Award, the Reginald Salisbury Award and the Made in China award at Lodz Fotofestiwal, Poland.

Stephen’s work has been published in various magazines including The Independent Magazine, The Observer Magazine, D La Repubblica delle Donne and IL Magazine among others.

Stephen is undertaking a one year residency at Fabrica, Benetton’s Research and Communications Centre in Italy, from where he will continue to develop long term projects.