Rooted in Dartmoor, recognised nationwide
Inspired by home and identity, commuter student Jaiyana is gaining national recognition for photography grounded in landscapes she has grown up with
“I’ve always been very connected to where I grew up, particularly Dartmoor, so staying close to home felt like the right decision for me.”
Growing up near Dartmoor, photography student Jaiyana Chelikha has never had to look far for inspiration. The dramatic landscapes on her doorstep, the communities she grew up around, and her own experiences of identity and belonging have all shaped the stories she tells through her camera.
After attending Ivybridge Community College and discovering a passion for photography, Jaiyana is now in her third year at the University and gaining national recognition for her work, including being part of Channel 4's Home Truths series. Her portrait Go back to where?, which explores the experiences of second-generation immigrants in Britain and draws on her own family's story, was selected for the Portrait of Britain awards – a prestigious national showcase featuring some of the UK's leading portrait photographers. The image, featuring her younger cousin against the backdrop of Dartmoor, is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
As a commuter student who has lived at home throughout her studies, staying close to the place she loves has only strengthened Jaiyana's creativity. With Dartmoor as her studio and Plymouth as her creative base, she has been able to pursue her ambitions while remaining connected to the landscapes and stories that inspire her most.
- BA (Hons) Photography student gaining national recognition for work rooted in home, identity and place
- Winner and published in Portrait of Britain 2026, exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery as part of Photo Portrait Now in 2025
- Plymouth-raised photographer inspired by Dartmoor landscapes and lived experience of community and place
In conversation with Jaiyana Chelikha
Finding inspiration close to home
Growing up near Dartmoor, you chose to stay close to home and study at Plymouth. Why was that important to you?
I’ve always been very connected to where I grew up, particularly Dartmoor, so staying close to home felt like the right decision for me. A lot of my photography is rooted in place, memory and lived experience, so being able to continue living in the environment that inspires my work was actually a benefit rather than something I felt I needed to move away from.
What was it about the University and the photography course that meant you didn't feel the need to go elsewhere?
The photography course at Plymouth also gave me the freedom to explore different areas of photography and develop my own practice. I knew I wanted to work creatively, but I don’t think I had necessarily figured out what that looked like yet, so having the opportunity to experiment was really important.
Studying as a commuter student
Did you find it easy to settle into university life as a commuter student? How did you go about making friends and feeling part of the course without living in halls?
I think I settled in fairly easily. A lot of getting to know people happened naturally through the photography course, as we were spending a lot of time together and working on projects alongside each other. I also joined societies, which gave me the chance to meet people outside of my course and have a bit more of the wider university experience.
I think being a commuter just meant I had to make more of a conscious effort to get involved rather than having that social side automatically through living in halls.
Have you felt supported by the University as a student who lives at home? Are there any things that made the experience easier or more challenging?
Yes, overall I’ve felt supported. Being a commuter meant I had a good balance between university and home life, while still having access to the facilities, teaching and opportunities on campus.
I also found that the support from my tutors and the photography team made a big difference.
“Having people who knew my work and could give me guidance throughout the degree helped me develop my practice and make the most of the opportunities available.”
Do you feel like you’ve been able to fully engage with university life and feel part of the student community, even though you’re not based on campus?
Yes. Getting involved in societies was probably one of the things that helped with that most, because it meant I wasn’t only experiencing university through my course. It gave me opportunities to meet different people and try things outside of photography.
I don’t think being a commuter has to limit how much you get from university. You just have to be willing to put yourself forward and make use of the opportunities that are available.
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Portrait of Britain selection
Your award-winning portrait Go back to where? explores themes of identity and belonging. How has studying at Plymouth helped you develop your ideas and showcase your work?
I think the course really helped me explore different areas of photography and eventually find what I wanted to focus on. Before university, I don’t think I would have necessarily seen myself as a portrait photographer, but having the freedom to experiment with different approaches helped me realise that portraiture was something I really enjoyed and wanted to pursue.
The course also gave me opportunities to put my work forward for competitions, exhibitions and other opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have come across or had the confidence to enter on my own. Go back to where? Was developed during my time at university, and without the support and opportunities I was given through the course, I don’t think it would have reached the same audience or gone on to win Portrait of Britain. A lot of where my practice is now came from what I was able to explore and develop while studying at Plymouth.
How did it feel to have Go back to where? selected for the Portrait of Britain awards, and what support did you receive from the University along the way?
It was a really significant moment for me because the photograph is quite personal. Seeing something that came from my own family and experiences being recognised on a national level was quite surreal.
The University gave me a lot of opportunities to get my work seen outside of the course. Photo Portrait Now was one of those opportunities, where my work was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in 2025, and that really helped give me the confidence to put my work forward for other opportunities. My lecturers were also really encouraging in pushing me to submit my work and take those opportunities seriously.
“It was exciting to see work I’d developed during my degree go on to be recognised nationally.”
What being a commuter student has meant
As you come to the end of your degree, what have been the biggest benefits of being a commuter student? Would you recommend the commuter route to others considering Plymouth?
The biggest benefit for me was being able to stay at home and close to my existing support network.
“I’d definitely recommend commuting if it works for you. You can still have a really fulfilling university experience without living on campus.”
Image references
1. From the No One Really Tells You series
2. Selfie by Jaiyana Chelikha
3. From the No One Really Tells You series
4. From the Go back to where? series
5. From the Go back to where? series
6. From the Go back to where? series
7. From the Go back to where? series
8. From the No One Really Tells You series
Life as a commuter student
If you plan to live at home whilst studying you won't be alone. At Plymouth, you'll be part of a large community of commuter students who travel to university from within Plymouth, or further afield from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
We've put together some advice to welcome you as a commuter student, and support for you to get the most out of your university experience.
