Rough Edges explores themes of class, identity and representation through a deeply personal lens. Born and raised on a council estate in Swansea, Kaylee Francis draws on her lived experience and ongoing connection to the community to offer a counter-narrative to the negative and often clichéd portrayals of working-class life seen in mainstream media.
As a child, she longed to leave the estate, internalising the societal judgement attached to coming from areas like hers. But now, as a parent herself, she reflects differently, recognising the strength, warmth, and resilience of the community that helped raise her. Rough Edges captures this shift in perspective, offering an honest and compassionate portrayal of people and places too often reduced to stereotypes.
Kaylee Francis’s work challenges the way working-class communities are seen, not just by others, but by themselves. Through photography, she documents the everyday realities and quiet dignity of her subjects, celebrating their value while resisting sensationalism. While acknowledging the disadvantages that exist, she is equally committed to highlighting the joy, humour, and solidarity that define community life.
Rough Edges is both a personal act of reclamation and a political statement. It seeks to reshape the narrative through lived experience, presenting an authentic view of working-class life from within.
An exhibition organized in partnership with the Ffotogallery in Cardiff (Wales), with the financial support of the Arts Council of Wales, Wales Arts International, Brittany Ferries and the Brittany Region.
