Freelancers: artists and designers – in pictures

Freya Douglas-Morris – artist. ‘I think about painting all the time, it is not something to switch off from. It is a constant that runs alongside everything else’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Katherine Pont and Cecilia Hammarborg – pop-up boutique directors and fashion designers. ‘As an employee in the fashion industry you have to give it all you’ve got. Working for ourselves we do not have to compromise our design work or ideals’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Kathryn Spence – knitwear designer. ‘I have a passion for beautiful textiles and knitwear, and I love to play with colour and patterns to create a luxury product I feel is totally unique. By working freelance I enjoy and appreciate the luxury to be able to design and create pieces for my own label. It allows me to produce my collection entirely of my own vision without answering to anyone’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Daniel Martin – special effects supervisor. ‘The biggest satisfaction with my job is sitting in an audience and having the person next to me squirm, gasp or jump when my work is on screen’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Lisa Brennan – surface designer. ‘I like listening to depressing music and creating mayhem, and the fact that I can hide behind my work. I don’t like being in the limelight, although that is an necessary evil sometimes’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Charlie Allen – tailor. ‘I am the third generation son of a tailor. My mother was a dressmaker and my father was introduced into the clothing business by her. The industry is in my blood; I had no choice but to be in clothing. I have a great rapport with most of my customers and many of them come again and again. We are often very close in the end, as we meet when they are passing some sort of milestone in their life and I get to share that experience – it’s a cherished relationship’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Giulietta Verdon-Roe – documentary photographer. ‘My vision becomes clearer and more acute as soon as I have my camera in my hand. I start to compose and recompose in my mind, noticing little details and the subtleties of lights and shadows. I have a suspicion that as I start to shoot I forget where I am and any problems I may be having; I smile because the world seems more beautiful and I feel full of energy’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Mo Coppoletta – tattoo artist. ‘I was born and raised in the Italian countryside of Verona, and from an early age I was exposed to a huge amount of religious and decorative art from my historical background. So when tattooing came into my life when I was 17 I was immediately charmed by those types of images – they looked pretty powerful and extreme to me’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Antonio Ribeiro – videographer. ‘I’ve recently spent six months making a film I had always wanted to write and direct only to find it was not getting into festivals. After a while it started getting accepted and was even nominated for best screenplay and best cinematography. As a result, instead of feeling the weight of the cart as I push, I’m working twice as hard and feel light as a feather. I guess an element of recognition is important and that defines my approach to life, not just film-making: work as hard as you can and something good will come to you’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Ptolemy Mann – weaver and colour consultant. ‘Working freelance was always going to be the only way I could be creative and do the range of projects that I do. I aim to encourage the use of colour through architecture, textiles, art, craft and design. I take each day as it comes and am thankful I have been able to be so creative in my daily life for so long’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Damian Barr – writer, journalist and cultural entrepreneur. ‘I was employed at the Times for many years before going freelance. Working freelance means you trade security for flexibility, infrastructure for independence, and camaraderie for the joy of your own company. I could never have a staff job in an office now’ Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson