For over 70 years, Clowns International - the oldest established clowning organization - has been painting the faces of its members on eggs.

Each one is a record of a clown's unique identity, preserving the unwritten rule that no clown should copy another's look. At first they were painted on real eggshells, then later (when they kept breaking) on to ceramic eggs, most of which are now housed at the Wookey Hole Clowns' Museum.

Here images from this extraordinary archive are accompanied by the stories of the men and women behind the make-up.

Winner of the 2005 Jerwood Photography Prize, Luke Stephenson photographs what to many epitomizes the eccentricity of Britain. Often humorous in their outlook, the subjects of his series of photographs range from prize budgerigars to those of the World Beard and Moustache Championships.

Helen Champion studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths College, London, and is herself a clown called Zenden.