British photographer Tim Richmond has carved a career documenting individuals living off the radar. For his latest project, Richmond spotlights the personalities gathering along England’s coastal Southwest to cross-dress. Assembling twice yearly, the camp is a sanctuary where men can dress freely as women and engage in a host of seemingly mundane activities. From singing competitions to mini golf and all complimented with multiple rounds of beers. Having stumbled across the undisclosed Somerset locale, near the British photographer’s own home, the director struck up a friendship with one of the retreat’s organisers Paul, seen as his alias Sarah, who has been cross-dressing for nearly forty years. Richmond goes behind the scenes below.

“I’d never seen Paul in full Sarah mode before filming. I’d only ever seen him as Paul so didn’t know what he looked like transformed but he really goes to town in terms of the full regalia. He told me he once fell asleep in a bikini and had to spend the rest of summer working a building site with his top on. I thought that played around with a lot of ideas about who these guys are. He’s a builder doing an ordinary job but has this theatrical side to his life.

“I found out about the retreat because I live nearby. You’d go down to one of the pubs and see those who are more keen to be out in full dress up. That varies from someone who’s gone to a lot of effort, down to someone who literally just put on a baggy frock and a bra, and maybe even keep their beard. It always causes discussions in town.

“I think a lot of the guys going there have been surprised by the degree of acceptance they receive. They’ve become part of the fixtures and fittings. Everyone gets used to it from the men in the garage to one pub which tends to get taken over when they’re in town. It’s quite surreal seeing butch ladies with pints playing mini golf. There’s something very English about that.” – Tim Richmond