PHOTOGRAPHS capturing the essence of Okehampton, which have been taken by an internationally-acclaimed artist go on display at the Museum of Dartmoor Life from today (Thursday, January 20). Michelle Sank?s exhibition ?About Face? consisting of around a dozen vibrant portraits of the town and its people is the latest exhibition to be held in the museum?s new exhibition gallery. Michelle said: ?Okehampton is a place which seems to be changing very rapidly. I started with the idea of looking at the changing face of Okehampton and it ended up as a celebration of the old and the new.? The collection includes pictures taken at Okehampton Show, at the town?s railway station and at cafes and meeting places in the town. The Exeter-based artist was last year given a grant by South West Arts to undertake the project, giving her the freedom to take her camera to places that she felt best represented the character of Okehampton. Michelle explained her husband was born in, and grew up in the Okehampton area and his parents still live locally, so she was quite familiar with the area. Michelle was born in Cape Town, South Africa, although she left the country in 1978 and has been living in England since 1987. Her images reflect a preoccupation with the human condition and to this end can be viewed as social documentary. Her previous work such as Bye-Bye Baby, Celestial Echoes and Endgame encompasses issues around social and cultural diversity. Michelle has previously staged solo exhibitions in Exeter and London as well as at galleries in Finland, and the Houston Centre of Photography, in Texas. Her work has also been displayed at prestigious venues such as the National Portrait Gallery in London and in galleries around the world: Berlin, Seattle, Hong Kong, Toronto and Sydney to mention just a few. She has twice won a South West Visual Arts Award and was shortlisted for last year?s European Award for Women Photographers. ?About Face? is running in the new upstairs gallery at the Museum of Dartmoor Life until February 17.