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Writing in the Sand: Whitley Bay, June 1989

Writing in the Sand: Whitley Bay, June 1989

Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen

Writing in the Sand: Whitley Bay, June 1989 by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen is offered as part of Side's 50x50 fundraising campaign. All profits from this sale will go to the AmberSide Trust (registered charity number: 1160760) to help fund Side’s ongoing community work, finance the continued care of the UNESCO-registered AmberSide Collection, enable future exhibitions and partnerships, and guarantee continued public access to documentary photography in the North East.

About the print:

Writing in the Sand documents beach life in North East England from 1973 to 1998. Through a series of black-and-white images, Konttinen captures the energy, joy, and resilience of people spending time by the sea. The project focuses on the everyday experiences of families, children, and individuals, reflecting the strong connection between coastal spaces and working-class leisure in the region.

Image Copyright: © Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen

£50.00 GBP
£50.00 GBP
Sale Sold out
Taxes included.
Dimensions
Frame

DETAILS: Available in a limited edition of fifty copies

Type: A4 archival C-type, printed on Hahnemuhle Baryta Fine Art paper

Size: A4 (210x297mm)

Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen

Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen is a Finnish-born documentary photographer who has chronicled working-class life in North East England since the late 1960s. A co-founder of the Amber Film and Photography Collective, her acclaimed work, including Byker and Step by Step, offer significant portrayals of the lives of everyday people in the North East. In 2011 her photography was inscribed onto the UNESCO Memory of the World Register as of national significance to the UK due to her embedded practice and historically vital portrayals of local communities. In 2025 Konttinen was awarded an MBE in the 2025 New Year’s Honours list for her services to photography.

50x50

50x50 is a fundraising print sale that offers the public a chance to acquire affordable, high quality, photographic images whilst supporting Side - the the only arts organisation in the United Kingdom devoted to documentary film and photography centred on working-class life, from the North East and beyond.
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Delivery from Beyond Print

When you order prints from Side's online store, we produce these to order in collaboration with our expert printing partner Beyond Print. This is a print on demand service which means we avoid the wastefulness of traditional retail by only producing what is needed. 

Final shipping costs are worked out at checkout based on the size items and locations of order dispatch. 

PRODUCTION PROCESS 

The production process is fully automated and starts shortly after the order has been placed. This means that almost all orders will leave Beyond Print's studio within 3 working days.

UK SHIPPING

  • Beyond Print offers different dispatch options which you can select at checkout, these vary from same day courier (London only) to Royal mail services. You can select what best suits you and your price range at checkout.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

  • Orders are dispatched using Beyond Print's International Delivery Partners.
  • Estimated transit times:
    • Europe: 5–10 working days
    • Rest of the World: 10–20 working days
  • Customs clearance may cause delays beyond the estimated delivery times.

CUSTOMS & IMPORT DUTIES

  • For international orders, Side is not responsible for any customs duties, taxes, or import fees imposed by your country’s customs office.
  • Any such charges must be paid by the recipient before delivery can be completed.
  • The imposing of tariffs and trade sanctions by the USA on all foreign goods may cause delays with receipt. Tariff rates are inconsistent and liable to change. Side cannot accept any responsibility for loss or higher customs clearance costs due to these changes. 

MISSED DELIVERIES

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  • If an order is returned due to an incorrect shipping address or failure to collect, the customer will be responsible for any additional shipping fees.

RETURNS

  • To begin a return request you must give written notice to us side.gallery@amber-online.com. You need to list the details of the goods ordered, along with your order number - without this your request will unfortunately not be able to be processed.
  • You are required to return the goods to Side at your own cost, in unused and otherwise re-saleable condition.
  • The goods must be adequately sealed in the original packaging and you must take reasonable care to ensure the goods are not damaged whilst in your possession or in transit.
  • We will refund you within 30 days of receiving goods back and condition checking the items.
  • Pieces which are customised, made to your specifications, signed or clearly personalised in any way, are not eligible for return. 
  • Items returned to sender due to non-payment of customs/import rates and tariffs are not eligible for refund. 

For any queries, you can contact our customer service team via side.gallery@amber-online.com