Graham Hembrough
Menai Bridge
Peripatetic Photographer and SoundScape artist, also provides freelance Training
My photographic portraiture and documentary work is generally created collaboratively with my subjects, conversing, and empowering them to be proactive and be part of the photographic process in terms of location and their representation.
The work portrays a subjective familiarity and confidence through this collaboration. Unlike candid street photography, I seek images that are mutually endorsed by the subject as well as myself. I want to show that individuals have an identity and personality which they own, regardless of the context in which they are photographed.
Much of my recent work is commissioned, either through Residencies or projects that either I have proposed or developed in collaboration with galleries, museums, or other clients.
My sound recordings often compliment and form part of the same process as the photographic work described above. ‘Authenticity’ is an important personal value and I am keen to represent people accurately and respectfully in my work. Soundscapes combining both mediums are becoming increasingly common in my recent projects and I see much potential developing this approach to both existing and future work.
I also enjoy sound recording and photography in the Natural world; attempting to escape the man-made soundscape (which is increasingly difficult). Immersing myself in the Land and Seascapes, observing, listening, and recording the life that inhabits these wild places. I delight in these precious moments, finding this a mindful and restorative process…
Collections & Corporate commissions:
2022 Artists and Makers commission through Conwy County Council, funded through Arts Council Wales to photograph Royal Cambrian Academy members living in the County of Conwy
2021 Commission to photograph actor, Ezra Miller on location, filming of ‘Dali Land’ co-starring Ben Kingsley (Chris Curling, Producer and Mary Harron, Director)
2020 - 2021 Penderyn Welsh Whisky Company; commission to photograph the transition of the Lloyd st., Llandudno County Archive to become the new Penderyn Whisky Distillery.
2020 Penderyn Whisky Distillery commission to photograph the staff and South Wales distillery.
2019 'Conwy Portraits" Community based Photographic Commission, Conwy County Council
2018 - 2019 Conwy Culture Centre Residency in collaboration with Siân Hutchinson.
2015 - 2016 'Retake/Reinvent' Artist Portraits funded through Bangor University, Arts Council of Wales and Museum of Wales (A Commission and Collection of my work).
2010 - Major Collection of my work (60 images), Purchased by Bangor Management Centre, Bangor University for permanent display.
2007 - Liminal Book Cover, Alcemi series, Y Lolfa Publishers, Aberystwyth, Wales
2007 - Photo documentation of 'Sculptural Installations2', Tyddyn Môn, Anglesey, N.Wales
2006 - Neighbours from Hell? Book cover, Y Lolfa Book Publishers, Aberystwyth, Wales
2006 - Newborough Warren Nature Reserve (PhotoMontage), Countryside Council for Wales
Projects:
2023 Memorial Sunday - Recorded 'Memorial Bells' soundscape at St.Aidan's, Bamburgh, Northumberland. An Installation by Keith Roberts and accompanied by the composition 'Caboretto' by John Casken performed by The Cosmo Singers (University of Manchester Chamber Choir) conducted by Robert Guy.
2022 Oriel Mostyn Autumn Residency – I collaborated with fellow sound recordist, Carl Richardson and the Sheffield based social architectural practice, ‘Studio Polpo’ on consulting and exploring ideas for ‘the Studio Space’ at Mostyn, a public engagement project.
2021 - 'Sounds from an Empty House' Plas Bodfa, Anglesey and http://soundlands.org project
2020 - ‘The Sounds behind the Photographs’ Arts Council Wales / National lottery grant
2019 - Community based, 'Conwy Portraits' Commission, Conwy County Council
2018 - 2019 In collaboration with artist, Sian Hutchinson, Conwy Culture Centre Residency
2013 - 2014 - 'West of Ireland, there and back again', Arts Council of Wales funded project
2006 - 2007 - 'A Year and a Day; Ynys Llandwyn', Arts Council of Wales funded project
Solo exhibitions:
2022 - 'Artists & Makers of Conwy' Commissioned environmental portraits (Touring).
2021 - Ongoing 'Conwy Portraits' Commissioned works Glasdir Llanwrst Library Hub
2019 - 2021 Conwy Culture Centre 'Conwy Portraits' Commissioned works
2016 - Oriel Ynys Môn, Anglesey, Artist Portraits Retake / Reinvent Oct/Nov, 2016
2016 - Storiel Bangor Artist Portraits (Solo) Retake / Reinvent Oct/Nov, 2016
2016 - Galeri Betws photographs with Graham Pritchard, Sept – November 2016
2015 - Oriel Colwyn, Irish Work, Curated by Paul Sampson
2014 - Oriel Mon 'The West of Ireland; there and Back,again (1980 - 2014)
2009 - Photography / Photographie Créatrice, Espace KALEO, Rochefort en Terre, Brittany
2009 - Selected photographic works, Oriel Môn, Anglesey
2008 - Llanddwyn;Moments in Time, Oriel Plas Glyn Y Weddw, Llanbedrog, Gwynedd
2008 - Llanddwyn;Moments in Time, Manorhaus , Ruthin, Denbighshire, N Wales
2008 - Photographie Créatrice, La grange Dufour, Ardes-sur-Couze, France
2007 - Llanddwyn, Moments in Time, Bodelwyddan Castle, St. Asaph, Denbighshire
2006 - Helfa Gelf Art Residency and Exhibition, Princes Arms Country Hotel, Trefriw, Conwy
1993 - Touring Photographic Exhibition, 'Gaeltacht', Various including Dublin and Galway, Eire
1989 - Islands - A Celebration, Connemara National Park, Islands Conference, Eire
1989 - Photographs Of An Irish Community, Joe Goheghan Gallery, Galway, Eire
1988 - Irish photo-documentary work, Galway National Library, Eire
1984 - Solo exhibition of early work undertaken in Ireland at Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor
Group exhibitions:
2022 - Storiel Gallery & Museum, 'Bangor University 25 years celebrating Fine Art'
2022 - Royal Cambrian Academy, 'Members Summer show'
2021 - Royal Cambrian Academy, Members Summer Exhibition
2019 - Royal Cambrian Academy, 'By Invitation' curated by Beverly Bell-Hughes
2016 - Oriel Ynys Mon Artists Portraits & Studio Studies, Retake Reinvent
2016 - Tilt & Shift, Llanwrst, Selection of Photographers work
2012 - Curated Exhibition of 3 Artists Work, Galeri, Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia
2009 - Open Art Exhibition 2009, Oriel Bangor, North Wales
2008 - Group show, selected by Martin Barlow, Director of Oriel Mostyn
2007 - Elements, Penrhyn Castle, Bangor
2007 - Feed Your Imagination, Old Courthouse Gallery, Thirsk, N Yorkshire
2006 - Feed Your Imagination, Oxo Tower Gallery, London
2006 - Summer Show, Plas Glyn y Weddw Gallery, North Wales
2006 - Welsh Light, Theatre Ardudwy, Harlech, N Wales
2005 - Andrew Logan Gallery, (Selected) Berriew, Wales
2004 - Journeys, Llangollen International Eisteddfod Pavilion, Llangollen, N.Wales
2004 - Selected works for Muse Contemporary Gallery, Mold, Denbighshire
1993 - Exhibition of College Lecturers Work, Design Centre, Colksholhskule, Darmstadt Dieburg and at the Palace Hellenburg, Dieburg, Germany
1986 - Becca with Pete and Paul Davies, Wrexham Arts Centre Competitions, prizes and awards:
2020 - Arts Council Wales / National lottery grant ‘The Sounds behind the Photographs’
2014 - 'There and Back, again', Arts Council of Wales, (project based in Wales & Ireland)
2007 - Landscape photographer of the year award, (take a view 2007), Sunday Times, London
2006 - 2007 - "Ynys Llanddwyn; a year and a day", Supported by the Arts Council of Wales
2006 - Observer Newspaper "Seeds of Change" Photographic Award (runner-up) and touring exhibition opened at the Oxo Tower Gallery, London
Commissioned Workshops:
Present - Delivering Peripatetic freelance workshops in Photography and Digital Imaging
2017 - 2018 Helfa Gelf Artists participating in my photographic and Photoshop workshops
2011 - Landscape Photography, Rhyd-y-Creuau, Field Studies Council, Snowdonia
2010 - Landscape Photography, Rhyd-y-Creuau, Field Studies Council, Snowdonia
2008 - Botwnnog High School Creative Workshops, Oriel Plas Glyn Y Weddw, Llanbedrog
2008 - Photographic Techniques, Forestry Commission, Wales
2008 - Photoshop Training, Forestry Commission, Wales
2006 - Forestry Commission Photographic Workshop, Newborough Forest, Anglesey
2005 - Master Class in Photography, Bodelwyddan Castle, Denbighshire
Educational lecturing experience:
2017 - 2009 Part-time Lecturer in Photography, Bangor University, Creative Arts & Media
2014 - 2007 Part-time Lecturer (in Photography), Coleg Llandrillo College, N Wales College
2007 - 1997 Full-time Lecturer, Art and Design, Llandrillo College, Llandudno, North Wales
1996 - 1991 Full-time Lecturer, Art and Design, Chesterfield College, Derbyshire
Qualifications and training:
1995 - Certificate in Education, Post 16, Sheffield Hallam Unversity
1991 - Youth Leadership Certificate, North East Wales Institute, Clwyd County Council
1981 - BA Hons, Documentary Photography, Exeter College of Art and Design, Devon
1978 - Foundation Course in Art and Design, Handbridge College, Chester
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