Artist Statement
My photographic work has immersed me in Nature for thirty years - out there, on the shoreline, in the forest, at the foot of the mountain, is where I lose myself… happily, it’s also where I find myself; impossibly small, insignificant, in awe; but I process, take notes, make pictures, and try to connect. The natural world is not there to be conquered or dominated, it’s to immerse, to respect and nurture. Tread lightly and leave only footprints; take memories, take away images, but leave the landscape untouched - or improved, where possible. My work has taken me to beautiful places that I’ve wanted to document and share - it has also increasingly led me to a desire to conserve and protect them.
The work on show at Tatha comes from INNER SOUND, made mostly in 2016, from a section of the project called The Storm. As I assembled the work for publication, turmoil raged across the globe, planet-trampling wreckers became world leaders; our forests burn and oceans rise year upon year - but still we put profit before planet. No artist works in isolation and these dark times are inevitably reflected in the work. Disrespect nature at your peril; the severe warning signs we continue to experience must be our global wake up call; the planet is suffering, we are killing it. We need to change, fundamentally. In our thoughts and deeds, the very way we think about our surroundings and the way we behave. The storm rises - we must rethink our course.
Exhibitions include: The Photographers’ Gallery, London • Scottish National Portrait Gallery • National Gallery of Scotland • International Center of Photography, New York • The Center for Creative Photography, Arizona • Jackson Fine Arts, Atlanta • Julie Saul Gallery, New York • Museet for Fotokunst, Odense •
Work in collections including: Scottish Government • National Galleries of Scotland • University of St. Andrews • Museum of Fine Arts, Houston • Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery • The Lannan Foundation, New Mexico • Museet for Fotokunst, Odense, Denmark • University of Texas • Collection of Sir Elton John • The Pet Shop Boys • Tommy Hilfiger • Channel 4 •