This project explores the realities of capitalism in Wales through the lens of small independent businesses. Working closely with Paws at Pencoed, a dog grooming salon run by Natalie, I was able to witness the dedication and resilience required to sustain a local business in a system that often favours large-scale enterprise. Natalie’s story reflects the broader challenges faced by small business owners: rising demand, limited staffing, and the constant pressure to remain competitive. Despite these obstacles, her commitment to her craft and her community stands as a testament to the strength and value of independent businesses in an increasingly corporatised economy.

Spending time in the salon, I came to understand not just the technical skill involved in grooming, but the emotional labour and personal investment that Natalie brings to her work. My photographs aim to capture the rhythm of her day, the intimacy of her interactions with the dogs, and the quiet determination that drives her forward.

This work is dedicated to highlighting the importance of small businesses like Paws at Pencoed. Not just as economic entities, but as vital threads in the social fabric of towns like Pencoed. In a capitalist landscape that often overlooks the individual, Natalie’s story reminds us of the human heart behind every independent venture.

Paws at Pencoed

Various pet grooming and household items on a wooden surface, including a ceramic bear-shaped piggy bank, a mug, a Coca-Cola bottle, a yellow leash, a pet grooming rake, a slate tile with the words 'PAWS OF PENCOLD' and paw print, a tooth comb, and a
A veterinarian is trimming a black and white dog's nails at a veterinary clinic.
A veterinarian or groomer tending to a large Saint Bernard dog in a veterinary clinic or grooming station.
Close-up of a black and white dog's face, focusing on the nose and closed eyes.
Two women in colorful scrubs are grooming a large Saint Bernard dog with dryers in a clinical setting.
Close-up of a black dog with brown eyes sitting in a grooming salon while a groomer brushes its coat.
Showerhead attached to a pipe on a tiled bathroom wall.
Groomer trimming a white dog's paws with scissors in a grooming salon.
A person gently petting a white dog with a pink collar, in a veterinary clinic or grooming facility.
Surgical scissors, a small medical instrument, and a spool of suture with a needle on a textured brown surface.
A medical or veterinary examination table with black fur and fur balls scattered on and around the wooden floor.
A woman with red hair and a colorful pet grooming uniform is trimming a black and white dog’s paw with scissors at a grooming table.
A woman with blonde hair and a blue patterned shirt is nose to nose with a small black and white dog on a grooming table, both appearing to enjoy a close moment at a pet grooming facility.
A woman and a large Saint Bernard dog with their foreheads touching in a grooming or veterinary setting.