W
hen I first visited, it
was to study English,
do an MA and see
all the famous places I’d heard
about. Then my husband and I
established The Polish Bakery.
We have been here ever since.
I love London. It’s a
cosmopolitan city and it keeps
attracting and surprising me. If
you are determined to achieve
something you can do it here.
The fact that you can indulge
yourself in different cuisines
makes London special for
someone like me who loves
experimenting with food.
You can visit historic places,
art galleries, open air theatres
such as the one in Regent’s
Park. This year I enjoyed
A
Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
.
We have a mix of clientele
with different backgrounds,
including the Polish community
in London. We always take
part in cultural or sporting
events to promote Poland.
Even something as small as a
loaf of traditional sourdough
bread can encourage those
from other countries to find out
something about Poland.
It is true that the Polish
community in London stick
together but I, like many
others, like to meet new friends
from other parts of the world
and more importantly make
good friends with the locals.
In life I have learnt to
‘
never say never’ but I can say
that although life in London
can become very busy I’m not
planning to go back to Poland.
It is my second home now,
although I always make time
to visit my family back home.
G
rowing up in a family
of architects, I was
drawn into the creative
world. I’ve decided to move to
London to study photography.
Its courses fascinated me;
everything from illustrations
to book arts, graphics, fine
arts to photography. In Poland
courses were more traditional,
less focused on individuals, less
flexible, less contemporary.
I studied BA Photography at
Camberwell College of Art and
later an MA at London College
of Communication.
My work ranges from still life
to interiors, food photography to
portraiture and art projects.
Like in every big city, London
can be tough at the beginning. It
took me about a year to feel at
home here. The longer I stayed
the harder it became to leave.
My house, studio, clients and
agent are here, as well as friends.
In Poland, there are not many
magazines I’d be interested in.
There are brilliant Polish artists,
though, and good galleries.
I shot for Polish
Elle Decoration
Magazine
.
I hope to have more
opportunities to work there.
London is definitely my home
now, but I might live in different
city at one point. The world is full
of amazing, fascinating places,
full of possibilities and potential.”
▲
Agnieszka Gabriel-Damaz
Profession
Co-founder of The Polish Bakery
Years in London
Nine
Home town
Rybnik
▼
Ania Wawrzkowicz
Profession
Still life and internal photographer
Years in London
Nine
Home town
Bydgoszcz
