Dearden grew up in Somerset, England. She has studied Anthropology at Edinburgh University and Photojournalism at the London College of Printing. She has documented social and humanitarian issues, producing features and facilitating workshops as a consultant for Photovoice. Her work is published worldwide: Vogue, Wallpaper, The Sunday Times Magazine, W Magazine, Harpers Bazaar, Stern Magazine amongst many. Jon Levy, founder of EI8HT, was a photojournalist himself working out of New York. On his return back to England he began an online journal of photography (foto8.com) as an attempt to bring photo-stories to a wider audience. After noticing the success of this endeavor and the response within the wider photography community, he decided to extend it into print.