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Striking new photos for BSF campaign

Scratching the Surface Campaign

World renowned photographer Rankin has taken a striking series of images for the new BSF campaign Scratching the Surface. Known for his work with celebrities including Adele, Lily Cole and Colin Firth, the images are being launched on the evening of 14 September at London’s National Portrait Gallery.

The images show models covered in a variety of insects, barbed wire and broken skin to convey the physical and emotional discomfort that is felt by millions of skin disease sufferers in the UK.

A host of celebrities are supporting the campaign, including award winning actor Jim Broadbent and artist wife Anastasia Broadbent, TV’s Anne Robinson, Sir Bruce Forsyth and David Bailey. Other well known faces including author Lady Antonia Fraser, actress Imogen Stubbs, presenter Gloria Hunniford and Dr Miriam Stoppard are also supporting Scratching the Surface.

The BSF is one of only a handful of bodies in the UK that awards money specifically for skin disease research. At present we can onoly afford to fund about a quarter of all the research applications we receive on an annual basis. Over the past four years, the BSF has awarded in excess of £2.7 million to numerous research projects, though the aim is to be able to do more.

Click on the image above and to the right to see them in full.

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What people are saying...

“Skin plays a large role in my line of work, so I'm proud to be able to support the British Skin Foundation with their campaign to raise awareness of skin disease. The challenge was to give the more typical beauty shoot a bit of a twist to have the images convey the emotional and physical impact of living with a skin condition.”

Rankin, photographer for the campaign

"I believe the work of the British Skin Foundation in persuading people, especially youngsters, of the dangers of sunbathing and sun beds is vital."

Anne Robinson, TV Presenter and supporter of the BSF

“I strongly support this campaign and hope people will too, given that skin cancer is one of the biggest killers of young people in the UK. A cure for the disease is urgently needed."

Sir Bruce Forsyth, a patron of the British Skin Foundation

“We needed to balance showing the sufferers’ vulnerability and highlighting their condition without having to resort to forensic details of their illness. Something Rankin has managed to convey beautifully”.

Phil Cockrell, Creative Director at design agency (Beta) who helped design the campaign posters

“Having a skin disease can be emotionally and physically devastating for the sufferer and those around them. Through raising awareness of what we do as a charity, we’re hoping to raise more money than ever before to go directly towards vital research into treatments and cures.”

Matthew Patey, BSF Chief Executive

Support the Campaign!

The campaign images will be appearing over the coming weeks and months in magazines, newspapers and websites across the UK, so keep your eyes peeled for them! Follow the campaign on Twitter and donate now!