The William Morris Gallery reopened in August this year following a £5million refurbishment featuring modernised exhibits and rooms, a new tearoom overlooking the park and a learning centre for school pupils.

As work was going on at the historic former home of the 19th Century designer, photographer Paul Tucker was given access to the building site, capturing images for Under The Surface.

“The images record the interior of the building,“ explains Paul, “not as a before and after but while in a process of change, revealing layers of its past as well as showing the creation of a new layer for the future.

“They were stripping it right back to the basics before they updated everything. Once it was empty and they started opening the windows it took on a whole new life really.“

Donning a hard hat and hi-vis, Paul’s pictures capture the temporarily exposed layers of the Georgian house before they were tidied and covered once more.

“It had been untouched for a long time. They were uncovering little bits and pieces as they were doing it – old wallpapers and places they didn’t even know were there. An empty room isn’t empty when you think about what’s gone on in there before.“

Revealing, atmospheric and often ethereal, Paul’s photos are a valuable document of the gallery’s history.

“It’s just those little moments,“ he adds, “before it starts a new life again. It’s a process of transition rather than a beginning or an end.“

Under The Surface is part of Detached at Penny Fielding Gallery & Interiors, see above. Details: www.paultucker.co.uk