London-based photographer John Gribben explores his Glasgow roots through surreal portraits featuring candy sprinkles (a lot of them)…and a character named Nigel.

The series is titled Glaikit, which in Glaswegian is slang for “glazed over” or “detached”. His protagonist is Nigel (a slang term pertaining to “a sense of isolation”), who finds himself carrying out mundane tasks, such as ironing or playing cards, while covered in sprinkles. Amidst the playful imagery and cheerful colors, there is a hint of melancholia through each portrait. We can almost see Nigel’s sad expression through the sprinkles.

“I’m interested in creating work that questions the viewers’ perception of digital manipulation,” says Gribben, who draws inspiration from surrealism, as well as the worlds of installation and sculpture. See more of his work on his site and Instagram.

Images © John Gribben / with permission