Can I download or reuse images from Marion Bull's website?

Updated

No. Marion Bull's site states that downloading from it in any form is strictly forbidden, and that the website and all images are © Marion Bull with all rights reserved. That prohibition explicitly covers AI scraping and image generation, not just saving a file to your computer. If you want to use an image, the only route the site points to is asking for permission through its contact page.

What the site actually says

The copyright notice on marionbull.com sets out three things:

  • No downloading in any form. The wording is broad: "Downloading from this site in any form, including AI scraping, image generation, or for any other purpose is strictly forbidden."
  • Ownership. "Website and all images © Marion Bull. All rights reserved."
  • Scope. The restriction applies to the site as a whole, not only to a particular gallery section.

Because the notice names AI scraping and image generation separately, you should not treat "I'm only feeding it to a model, not republishing it" as a loophole. The site treats that as a prohibited download.

What this means in practice

Activity Status under the site's notice
Saving an image to your device Forbidden ("in any form")
Reposting an image on a blog, social account, or portfolio Forbidden
Using an image in a publication, deck, or client project Forbidden without permission
Scraping the site or using images to train/generate with AI Explicitly forbidden
Viewing the gallery in a browser Not restricted by the notice
Linking to the site or a page Not addressed by the notice; ask if unsure

The notice does not describe any licence, fee, or exception, so do not assume that credit, a link back, or non-commercial use makes reuse acceptable. Those are common assumptions elsewhere, but nothing on this site supports them.

If you need to use an image

  1. Go to the site's Contact page.
  2. Describe the specific image (gallery and subject), where it will appear, the audience or circulation, and the duration of use.
  3. Wait for written permission before downloading or publishing anything. A reply granting use is the only thing that changes the default position above.
  4. Keep the permission on file alongside the published work.

If you get no response, treat that as no permission and use a different image.

Common pitfalls

  • "It's for a school project / personal blog." The notice makes no exception for non-commercial or educational use.
  • "I'll credit the photographer." Attribution is not a substitute for permission here; the site grants no reuse right in exchange for credit.
  • "I only used it as an AI reference." AI scraping and image generation are named in the prohibition.
  • "The image was already on another site." The copyright statement covers Marion Bull's images regardless of where you found a copy; find the rights holder rather than the copy.

Related questions

  • What the site is about and how it is organised: see the overview of Marion Bull's website.
  • How to browse the gallery or get in touch: see the guide to viewing the gallery and contacting her.
  • Where the work has appeared: her published credits include The Guardian, Observer, Sunday Times, FT, Daily Telegraph, Mail on Sunday, Independent, National Geographic, and academic books, plus broadcast work for BBC Radio 4 and North African TV.