THE ENGLISH
The Beaumont Gallery in Mere, Wiltshire is hosting a talk and slideshow on its current photography exhibition ‘The English’ by the two exhibiting photographers Ian Berry and Ash Mills on Thursday 9 March at 1.00pm-3.00pm.
This is a rare and great opportunity to talk face-to-face with two professional photographers, one of whom is a world-renowned Magnum photographer.
Hear them talk about the challenges of capturing ‘the story’ through their photography and the techniques they use.
Let them inspire you and further expand your creative horizons. And there will be plenty of opportunity to question them about all aspects of their work.
Tickets, £10.00 per person. Please email info@beaumontgallery.co.uk or call 07855
650964 to reserve your place. Numbers limited.
Short biographies for the two photographers
Ian Berry made his reputation as a photojournalist reporting from South Africa, where he worked for the Daily Mail and later Drum magazine. He was the only photographer to document the massacre at Sharpeville. While based in Paris he was invited to join Magnum by Henri Cartier-Bresson. He moved to London to become the first contract photographer for the Observer Magazine. He has covered conflict in Israel, Ireland, Vietnam, Czechoslovakia and Congo, famine in Ethiopia and apartheid in South Africa. He has also reported on the political and social transformations in China and the former USSR.
Awards include Nikon Photographer of the Year (twice), Picture of the Year award from the National Press Photographers of America, and British Press Magazine Photographer of the Year (twice). Arts Council Award, Art Directors’ Club of New York Award.
His books include The English, two books on South Africa, Sold into slavery and Sea. Exhibitions in London, Paris, Hamburg, Brussels, Bradford, Perpignan, Aix en Provence Shanghai, Lowry Gallery, Walker Art Gallery Liverpool, Edinburgh, SCOP Shanghai, Hastings, Bruges.
The book: The English - Ian Berry This collection of Ian Berry's superb photographs of "The English" represent a personal exploration of England and English life - a project he could undertake through being awarded the first Arts Council Photography Bursary. Says Berry of this book, "Though I was born and grew up in the North of England, I was in the odd situation of being English and knowing very little about England, having spent much of my life abroad.
I set out to record what I saw professionally. But despite a journalistic purpose I am drawn to visual situations. Many areas of life are difficult of access to a photographer. I have had to select my favourite photographs and that must militate against a comprehensive view. In the end, such a book can only offer a personal and partial view of what one has seen. Readers must draw their own conclusions about the photographs and what they add up to." Ian Berry's photographs of old and young, of all classes, at home, at work, at leisure, together and alone, will inform, sadden, delight, and illuminate England and the English way of life.
Ash Mills graduated from Salisbury College of Art in 1994, with a PQE in Photography, Film and Television. Working in the camera department he was fortunate to work on fascinating documentaries such as the BBC’s QED series and Living Proof as well as exciting programmes like Earth Story, 999 reconstructions, Channel 4’s Time Team, and various Extreme programmess as he was keen on caving and generally getting roasted, soaked or blown away! With a client base established in Bristol and London he moved back to Salisbury where he has gradually transitioned into doing more stills work than film, along with a spell as a film editor for a local film production company. Nowadays he has a broad portfolio of clients aside from Salisbury Cathedral. He still credits his grandmother Tineke Robson, a Dutch artist, for inspiring his more creative side and introducing him to a lifelong love of photography and art. He had the huge pleasure of working alongside Ian Berry at Salisbury Cathedral whilst he took photos over Easter in 2015; “I remain in awe of Ian’s style and hope to continue to learn as much as I can from him.”
The Beaumont Gallery
Woodlands Road
Mere, Wiltshire
BA12 6BT
