Voices From The Levels
Documenting the Peckham Levels working community
In 2025 I was commissioned to shoot six portraits documenting the people and spaces of Peckham Levels in South London. Peckham Levels is a disused multi storey carpark that is now used as a creative outlet, giving entrepreneurs and independent businesses a space to thrive and connect.
Running Three Shades Creative has been a journey. I love the work we do, and I feel lucky to share it with my best friends. But with a young family and a home to manage, the pressure of life can creep in. In those moments, I check in: is this version of me someone younger me would be proud of?
I remember 19-year-old me on his first trip abroad, holding a budget mini flip camera, staring at backpackers with DSLRs, wondering if I’d ever own one.
I remember 22-year-old me, lost at uni, desperate to find something creative to believe in.
I remember 25-year-old me in Australia, working as a runner on a video shoot, dreaming of the day I’d direct one.
And now I’m here doing work I love, in a space that inspires me. I’m proud of what we’ve built. And I think the younger me would be proud of how far I’ve come.
Peckham Levels is more than just our studio. It’s where the dream grew real.
Warren
Dee
Peckham Levels is a blank canvas for independent commerce. Local brands come here to test, build, and thrive, and we get to help them do that. That’s the part I love most. It’s regenerative. It’s communal. It’s not run by conglomerates. It’s people-powered.
After 20 years in hospitality, I’ve learned it’s not just about pulling pints. It’s about climate, community, and responsibility. Everything is considered. The question becomes: what legacy are you leaving behind? For me, it’s about sovereignty. Independence. Especially for black entrepreneurs and working-class creatives. Most of the brands we work with are independently owned. Some have B Corp status. They're redefining what business looks like. Not just making money, but making impact.
When people come to Peckham Levels, I hope they feel that. That they’re part of a living network. They are not just punters, but co-creators in something bigger.
The work isn’t mine alone. It’s always been collective. I want people to leave knowing they belonged. That they helped shape a new blueprint for how business, creativity, and community can evolve, together…
I’ve lived in and around Peckham for over 40 years. My roots run deep. School at Oliver Goldsmith, childhood memories tied to the streets and shops, and the people who’ve shaped this place.
What I’ve always loved about Peckham is its inclusivity and energy. Cultures blend here. Creativity thrives. There’s something for everyone: food, music, art, markets, community. Walk down Rye Lane and you feel it: the pulse of a neighbourhood moving forward, yet still rooted in its past.
Yes, things have changed, new buildings and new faces, but Peckham’s spirit remains. Neighbours still say hello. Local initiatives still bring people together. It’s a place that evolves while holding on to what matters.
Living here means being part of something real, dynamic, and full of character. Peckham isn’t just where I live, it’s where I belong.
It isn’t just a place. It’s a feeling. And for me, it will always be home.
Sharon
Born and raised in northwest London, I’m a bit of an SE convert. I first discovered Peckham at eighteen or nineteen—making the hour-and-a-half trek just to dance at Soul Train or Canavan’s. Even back then, it felt like I’d unlocked a new part of the map. The vibe was different. Electric. Alive.
Fast forward ten years, a pandemic, and a string of office spaces that never quite fit—and we finally landed at Levels. We're a small film business started by three mates who got a bit overexcited about making stuff together. This place matches our energy. It’s creative, collaborative, and full of people who want to build things that are bigger than the sum of their parts.
Levels feels like a little community. A hub. A launchpad. Somewhere you can knock on doors, ask for help, and see what you can cook up together.
Most of my adult life, I’ve been searching for a place that felt right. I’ve always second-guessed decisions, always assumed I wouldn’t stay anywhere too long. But I’ve lived around Peckham for six years now and for the first time, I’ve got no plans to leave.
Sim
Half of my university years were shaped by the pandemic. Then, at the end of 2023, I was made redundant. Adulthood, it turns out, came with a little more loneliness than I expected.
But the smile on my face here is real, full of gratitude and a good dose of silliness. I’m lucky to work with brilliant colleagues in a building that bursts with colour, creativity, and flair in every corner.
I hope to keep giggling my way through life, telling stories, wearing colours and floaty clothes, and finding lightness wherever I can.
“With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.”
- William Wordsworth
Liza
I discovered pottery three years ago, after leaving a toxic job and realising I’d lost touch with who I was. Life had worn me down. One day, I looked in the mirror and barely recognised myself. My mental health was in pieces. I didn’t even know what I enjoyed anymore.
Ceramics became a quiet companion in healing. It helped me reconnect with a creative part of myself I’d long neglected offering freedom, play, and purpose.
I’ve always had a clear vision of things I wanted but couldn’t find: the perfect coffee cup, a handle that feels right, colours that feel like home. Pottery gave me a way to bring those ideas to life. I poured myself into the details, solving little problems with care. I fell in love with the process.
Clay itself is beautiful. It’s reusable, unpredictable, full of personality. It humbles me and constantly invites me to grow. And there’s always something new to explore, whether it’s a glaze, a technique, or simply learning how a piece comes together.
Pottery brought light back into my life. It helped me remember who I am.