Peter Willis's postboxes photographs: a pure form of art

The photographic mission undertaken by the passionate Peter Willis reveals an incredible range of postboxes all over the UK. His photographs absolutely unprecedented bear witness to an evolution in the urban landscape as well as our uses. Andy Oxley, director of some astonishing portraits of collectors, tells us the story of this film.

***

Caroline Henry: How did you meet Peter Willis and how did you come up with the idea of filming him? 

Andy Oxley: I was making a short film about the Dull Men's Club called Born to Be Mild and Peter was one of 5 members we filmed with. We ended up with a lot of footage that didn't make it into Born to Be Mild and it always felt that Peter's story deserved a standalone film in its own right.

CH: Could you describe a shooting session with him? Does he follow a particular protocol?

AO: Peter just goes with the flow and takes his time. For him it's a pastime so he likes to take in the scenery and not rush. He was very inquisitive about our process and was asking lots of questions about cameras. He actually switched to Panasonic after we filmed because he liked what we were using.

CH: Has he ever shown his 2,500 postboxes photographs? In which context?

AO: He doesn't exhibit his photos, he does it very much for his own leisure. He does print some of his favourites and had brought along a portfolio to show us, but I was surprised to learn he doesn't even put any up in his home. He shares some of them with the Letter Box Study Group as it helps to keep their records up to date, but mostly his pictures aren't available to the public, which is one of the things I find interesting about what he does.

CH: What fascinates you about his art?

AO: I have always been fascinated by what makes other people tick, especially if it's very niche. I am also interested in Outsider Art. What I like about Peter's work is that he's not doing it for any particular reason, it's just something he's driven to do, it gives him meaning, and that for me is art in its purest form. There is something very pure about what he does.

CH: What would be the subject of your next film?

AO: My next film is a much darker story about an amateur filmmaker and archivist who had a collection of 2,500 DVDs in his council flat. Most of the collection was filmed by him just out and about in his local area with a camcorder. Similarly to Peter, he did it for no particular purpose, just for the love of it.

Interview conducted in December 2024
The photos are taken from the film Postbox Peter
directed in 2024 by Andy Oxley