We last caught up with Annabel Preston in 2019 when she was enjoying a gap year in Hong Kong. Since then she’s completed an MA in Art History at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, and returned home to continue to visually document our ever-changing city alongside a career in arts and culture.

Annabel (third from right) with Battle of the Books club

Born in Hong Kong, Annabel spent her primary school years at Kellett before heading off to boarding school in her native Australia in 2011. She credits the great teachers and small class sizes at Pokfulam with developing her confidence to take on any challenge and strive to be her best. “The teachers paid attention to every student, getting to know their strengths and weaknesses and encouraging us to have a go at everything,” she says. “There was also a huge variety of ECAs, so you could try out lots of different things. Teachers were very inclusive, finding a place for everyone who wanted to be involved, which gave every child the opportunity to find their own potential.”

Annabel (front row, second from left) in Seussical

Annabel fondly remembers being in several musicals including Seussical, based on the stories of Dr. Seuss, and Cinderella, but she found her true passion when she entered a school photography competition at the age of ten. "Looking back, I had a strong awareness of my visual sense. I loved taking photos, so my Mum suggested that I enter. I went out with her tiny, old Canon SureShot: smoke used to come out the top of it when it flashed, I don't think it lasted much longer! Then, through the process of observing my surroundings, choosing what to photograph and selecting what to share, it all kind of just clicked for me,” she says. When she ended up winning first place and seeing her work displayed around the school, she realised it was something she was good at and wanted to pursue further. “I got my first camera when I was 12, which was very special, allowing me to experiment more with the medium. Since then, photography has changed so much,” she reminisces. “Even compared to just ten years ago, photography is something that's very, very different,” she says, “with the advent of the metaverse, it’s so accessible now, things just circulate so quickly, and there’s this huge oversaturation of images. I didn't get an iPhone until I was 18, but the immediacy of smartphone documentation "added another lens' to my photography practice. It is a fascinating time to be in the industry I am in."

The work of the Chinese photographer, Fan Ho (1931-2016), was a source of inspiration for Annabel, growing up fascinated by the rich visual environment of Hong Kong. “He took these incredibly atmospheric black and white photos documenting the streets of Hong Kong and I think it made me very aware of trying to capture these transient aspects of the city as moments in time.”

Annabel’s Winning Photograph, Man Mo Temple & Hollywood Road 2010*

Annabel shares that she feels very much a Hong Konger at heart, but that her idea of her own cultural identity has transformed over the years. “My understanding of my Hong Kong culture has developed since I was a child. At Kellett, I was surrounded by a lot of people who were like me, and it offered a strong sense of community for myself and my family. But since coming back a few years ago, it feels like a bit more of a complex identity, and I’ve found this interesting to navigate.” She feels fortunate that her art history degree allowed her to return to the city she loves, interning for a year with the curatorial team at M+ before becoming an educator for the museum, conducting private tours of exhibitions including Shanshui: Echoes and Signals, which she worked on through 2023. “It’s a very interdisciplinary show, looking at how contemporary artists are translating the traditional painting genre of 'shanshui' (literally 'mountain and water') into something new, and how we experience landscapes around us from the natural to the digital. The curatorial team was very small, so I worked closely with some really amazing mentors and got involved in all aspects of the project.”

In November, Annabel took up the position of assistant editor at the periodical ArtAsiaPacific, focusing on the arts and culture of the Asia Pacific region. “I really couldn’t have found a more perfect role,” she says, “I’ve known since very young that I wanted to work with words as well as photographs in some capacity.” Having spent the past year getting her freelance photography business up and running - a highlight of which was photographing the inaugural Asian Avant Garde Film Festival at M+ - she was ready to commit to something more permanent and is thrilled to be able to combine both of her passions. “I loved my art history course at St Andrews and I really feel my attitude towards art and culture evolved throughout my studies. I learned how much the subject encompasses, including the psychological, philosophical and the political - there is so much to learn from the visual world and images that have existed for thousands of years. It tells us so much about a specific time and place and the way an artist lived as well.” Although her parents were very supportive, she does remember being exposed to ideas that treat arts and culture as an inferior career pathway. She rejoices in her observation that culture seems to be having a new kind of revival as more people realise the importance of storytelling, both written and visual, to learn about our world.

Photography by Annabel Preston 2010-1019

So what’s next for Annabel? “I’m really happy just doing what I’m doing for now. But perhaps a photobook,” she muses “While print culture is quite fragile here, I do think there’s an appetite for that irreplaceable feeling of looking through a book.” Although she still enjoys photographing our ever-changing streets, she tries not to limit her work to one style or genre, finding fascination with exploring different textures and working with light and contrast. “I also still love taking photos in film,” she says, “carefully framing each photo and taking the time to develop something that looks very unique is special for me.” In fact, if she has any advice for current Kellett students, it’s just that– “Experience different things and take the time to find out what you love, and then spend time doing it!”

Visit https://www.annabelpreston.com and a link to Annabel’s previous article here.

Follow Annabel's photography on Instagram @annabelmpreston

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Below are photos of Annabel when she was at school (login to view).