Comings and Goings

Photographer Casey Orr with her pictures of inmates and their families displayed on the outside walls of Armley prison in Leeds Photograph: Christopher Thomond

At the heart of the exhibition is a series of photos of inmates, taken with visiting relatives under specially relaxed rules. Each prisoner gets a copy of what in most cases is their first studio family portrait Photograph: Casey Orr

The family portraits were taken by Orr in the prison during visiting time. She says: 'Although there are very real walls, bars and locked doors here, there is still movement. There is life and a connection to the outside, to family, to community, to this community. There are children. And with that, there is hope' Photograph: Casey Orr

There could hardly be a more intimidating prison from the outside than Armley, but sections have been scrubbed and others are new-build, and on one of them, Wall 5 (pictured), Orr has added colour and life Photograph: Casey Orr

Orr says: 'Normally [the prisoner and his family] are at tables sitting ­opposite each other, just as people imagine in prisons, but for this project they were allowed to sit next to one another, on sofas or with the dad cuddling his baby' Photograph: Casey Orr

The prisoners will not see the wall – but they have a scaled-down version now brightening up the visiting room Photograph: Casey Orr

Another view of Wall 5 Photograph: Casey Orr

Alister Leitch, the prison’s operations manager, worked with Orr to make the project happen. He says: 'The more we got involved, the more we wanted to be part of this project. We have our own community but their families are extended parts of it who link us to the world outside the walls' Photograph: Casey Orr

All of the pictures displayed on Armley prison's exterior wall Photograph: Casey Orr