Ann Cook: 35 Years Photographing Glastonbury Festival
The PressoirFor 35 years, photographer Ann Cook has documented Glastonbury Festival: the performers, the crowds and the fleeting moments that give Worthy Farm its character. At 90, her remarkable archive has been featured by ITV News West Country and a selection is on display at The Pressoir in Wells, Somerset.
At a glance
- Photographer: Ann Cook, Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society
- Archive: 35 years of Glastonbury Festival photography
- Exhibition: Glastonbury Years at The Pressoir in Wells
- Entry: Free, with no ticket required
- Featured by: ITV News West Country
Ann Cook and 35 years of Glastonbury Festival photography
Ann is first and foremost a people and portrait photographer. Her work is interested in people, their cultures and the ways they come together, which makes Glastonbury Festival a natural subject. She photographs it as a living human story, attentive to what happens on the stage and around it.
Across three and a half decades, Ann has photographed performers including James Brown, Neil Young and Amy Winehouse. Her festival work has appeared in publications and broadcasts including The Times and the BBC. Together, the images form a distinctive record of Glastonbury Festival through one photographer’s eyes.
Along the way, Ann has made the name “Granny Goes to Glastonbury” entirely her own. It captures the warmth, independence and curiosity with which she has returned to the Festival year after year.
From Worthy Farm to the walls of The Pressoir
During Glastonbury Festival’s 2026 year off, Ann’s photographs have found a home here in Wells. The Glastonbury Years exhibition brings festival-scale moments into the intimate setting of The Pressoir, where visitors can pause over each image and often begin sharing memories of their own.
It has been a privilege to hang Ann’s work on our walls and to welcome her, Michael Eavis, friends and family for the exhibition launch. You can read the story and see photographs from the launch.
Watch the ITV News West Country report
ITV News West Country visited The Pressoir to meet Ann, look back over her 35 years at Glastonbury Festival and see the exhibition in Wells.
The video opens on ITVX in a new tab.
What the ITV report covers
The report introduces Ann at 90 and looks back at the 35 years she has spent photographing Glastonbury Festival. It visits her exhibition at The Pressoir in Wells, shows Ann among the photographs and explores the story behind “Granny Goes to Glastonbury” during the Festival’s year off.
Transcript note: ITV does not currently provide subtitles or a published transcript for this clip. This section is an editorial summary, not a verbatim transcript.
Visit the Glastonbury photography exhibition in Wells
The exhibition is on the walls at The Pressoir now. There is no ticket and no formal viewing time: drop in during our usual opening hours, spend time with the photographs and stay for coffee, lunch or a glass of wine if you wish.
Visit The Pressoir
10 Heritage Courtyard
Sadler Street, Wells
Somerset BA5 2RR
Opening hours
Monday to Thursday: 9am to 4.30pm
Friday and Saturday: 9am to 7pm
Sunday: closed
About Ann Cook and the exhibition
A few useful details about Ann’s photography and visiting the exhibition in Wells.
Who is Ann Cook?
Ann Cook is a people, portrait, travel and festival photographer, and a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. Her photographs have been published by organisations including the BBC and The Times.
How long has Ann Cook photographed Glastonbury Festival?
Ann has photographed Glastonbury Festival for 35 years, creating an extensive record of performers, crowds and festival life.
Where can I see Ann Cook’s Glastonbury photographs?
A selection from Ann’s Glastonbury Years is displayed at The Pressoir, 10 Heritage Courtyard, Sadler Street, Wells, Somerset BA5 2RR.
Is the exhibition free?
Yes. The exhibition is free to visit during The Pressoir’s normal opening hours, and no ticket is required.
You can explore more of Ann’s photography on Ann Cook’s official website.
See you soon,
David