A Bury photographer is opening up conversations around mental health and sobriety in the town this month as part of a wider campaign.

The photographer, who goes by the name Project Certi, has gained more than a million likes on his TikTok account where he shares candid street interviews and portraits of people in Manchester.

As part of Greater Manchester's Recoverist Month, the UK's only arts-based awareness month for substance use recovery, he is turning his attention to the theme of mental health and sobriety for a series of newly commissioned video monologues, Sober Curiosity.

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The awareness month was first launched last year by Portraits of Recovery (PORe), a visual arts charity inspiring and supporting people affected by and in recovery from substance use.

Mark Prest, director of PORe, said:  "After coming across his [Project Certi’s] work by chance on Instagram, the quality of his videos really struck me; both the aesthetic qualities and his personal and empathic interview style.

"His own sensitive, vulnerable gaze seeks out others who are able to authentically articulate their inner worlds.

"He is bringing a quality digital dimension to Recoverist Month, enabling people from Greater Manchester to share their own stories in a safe space that reaches beyond its borders."

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The self-taught photographer and videographer will be holding impromptu conversations about sober curiosity with people in Bury, Manchester, Tameside, Trafford and Stockport in the coming weeks, shared in collaboration with alcohol-free brand, Love From.

The photographer, whose clients include Sheffield United, Big Narstie, Specsavers and Network Rail, said: "When I was approached by Mark to create a series about sober curiosity for Recoverist Month I jumped at the chance.

“I would describe myself as sober curious and I have barely had a drink in the last year for various reasons.

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"Sober curiosity seems like a really positive trend and I hope this project gets even more people talking about it."

Studies show that 28 per cent of young adults in the UK do not drink alcohol and the sober curious movement has gained popularity on social media in recent years.

Taking place throughout September, Recoverist Month will see a series of performances, exhibitions, screenings and discussions at venues around the region, including HOME Manchester, The Turnpike Gallery in Leigh, Oldham Library and Manchester Art Gallery.

You can find Project Certi’s videos on Portraits of Recovery's Facebook and Instagram pages.