Who?

I am a research-based artist and writer who primarily uses photographic processes to examine human relationships, particularly in relation to identity and the natural world. I use a variety of traditional, modern and experimental photographic techniques, often within the same projects, to explore the limits and flexibility of the medium. A principle focus of mine is the practice of embedding the subject of my creative and research interests within the material of its representation (an example of this can be found here). I am also interested in photography's relationship to other media as a method to deepen and expand audience engagement with complex themes and subjects. Some examples of this are the inclusion of sound, sculpture and living plants exhibited alongside printed media.

Alongside my practice I am also a practice-based PhD student in photography at the University of Brighton, conducting research on how artistic interaction with the concept of vegetal intelligence can help deepen creative engagements with plants, with a specialism in oak trees. Broadly speaking my research interests cover photographic theory, history and practice; plant intelligence; critical plant studies; queer ecology and queer theory.

A link to my research profile can be reached here.

My creative writing, which usually takes form as short stories, poems or photo-poetry, explore human relationships and memory in relation to queer identity and intimacy. Information about my first short story Under waning moons, a combination of photography, prose and poetry (or photo-poetry), published by At Alta: The Birmingham Journal of Literature in 2020, can be found here.

Self-portrait with a mature oak tree which features as the subject of my Perceiving Phytochrome images, Hergest Croft Gardens , Kington, UK.

Education

2018-Present
PhD, Arts, Media and Photographic Practice
University of Brighton

2014-2015
MA, Art History and Museum Curating with Photography
University of Sussex, Brighton

2010-13
BA, Photography and Video
De Montfort University, Leicester

Publications

2024 ‘Photographic Phytography: Towards a Photographic Re-centering of the Oak Tree in Method, Theory and Practice’, Plant Perspectives (accepted/in press).

2024 ‘Qu(e)ercus Robur: Orlando and the Oak Tree’, Issue 63, Queering Nature, Antennae Journal: The Journal of Nature in Visual Culture.

2023 ‘Queer Constellations: Reflections on Curatorial and Creative Practice at the Museum of English Rural Life’, co-authored paper with Joe Jukes, published in Networking Knowledge: MeCCSA Journal for Postgraduate Research

2020 Online and in-print publication of 'His Ballard, under waning moons', a short story and photography project, published in At Alta: The Birmingham Journal of Literature, Vol XI

2019 Online and in-print publication of Homeland, a zine curated by Revolv Collective, featuring work from project 'Common Ground', Take Courage, London

2014 Short story, 'A Shadow to Cast Light' as part of Extending ley linesa collaborative series of writings curated by artist Will Jennings

Press, Talks & Conferences

2023 Epha J. Roe - Finding Agency Through Creativity, podcast interview for ‘Self Esteem’, interviewed by Creative Director Mike Raven

2022 Photosymbiosis, co-presented talk with Prof. Annebella Pollen on my practice-based PhD of the same name, hosted by ONCA Gallery, Brighton

2021 Queer Constellations, co-presented talk with Joe Jukes at the MeCCSA-PGN Conference titled ‘Dreaming of Another Place’, taking place as a discussion of the exhibition ‘Queer Constellations’ at the Museum of English Rural Life, held at University of Brighton, Brighton

2017 Photograph 'Out to Ftena' chosen to advertise launch of 1845.media - publishing house of The British Journal of Photography

Selected exhibitions

2023 Roots: A Journey of Creative Discovery with England’s Heritage Oak Trees, solo show, The Artery Studies, Arch 28 Gallery, Worcester

2022 Photosymbiosis, solo show, ONCA Gallery, Brighton

2022 Telling Pictures, a group exhibition bringing together photographic research and practice as part of the Brighton Photo Fringe, Edward Street, Brighton

2022 YEARBOOK, a group online exhibition by Shutterbug, showcasing the work of over 300 photographer’s from all over the world

2021 Queer Constellations, a group exhibition exploring queer approaches, ways of seeing or experiencing rurality, to coincide with the play ‘The Stars Are Brighter Here’ dir. Timothy Allsop (as part of ‘Queer Rural Connections’), featuring work from PhD project ‘Photosymbiosis’ (then titled ‘Embarkment’), Museum of English Rural Life, Reading

2021 screentime photoconvo, a discussion through photographs with another photographic artist, as part of screentime zine’s magazine feature, Vol I

2020 North / South, a group exhibition with Bethan Clarke and 'Landing Collective', a collaborative exhibition as part of the Brighton Photo Fringe 2020, featuring assorted work exploring the intersection between human culture and the natural world, Phoenix Gallery, Brighton

2020 Body / Nobodya group exhibition and zine co-curated by New Grounds & Beth Troakes, as part of the Artists Open House Festival, featuring work-in-progress from PhD project 'Photosymbiosis', Gallery Lock In, Brighton

2019 Homeland, a group exhibition and zine curated by Revolv Collective, featuring work from project 'Common Ground', Take Courage, London

2019 Faking it, a group exhibition featuring work from 'The Dawn and the Downs' and 'Glitch[ed]' (collaboration with Bethan Clarke), to take place alongside 'Faking it' academic conference, University of Sussex, Brighton

2019 Fake | Make, a group exhibition curated by New Grounds, in partnership with the Artists Open House Festival, featuring work from 'The Dawn and the Downs' and 'Glitch[ed]' (collaboration with Bethan Clarke), The Old Market, Brighton

2019 Aesthetic Initialisms, a group exhibition curated by Charlotte Graham featuring work-in-progress from 'Glitch[ed]', collaboration with Bethan Clarke, ONCA Gallery & the University of Sussex, Brighton

2018 Brighton Photo Fringe '18, group exhibition as part of Ontic Collective, selected images from 'The Dawn and The Downs', Phoenix Gallery, Brighton,      
2018 One Year Revolv, a group exhibition organised by RevolvCollective, including the image 'Out to Ftena', Safehouse 1, London

2018 scapes, a group exhibition organised by trace, including images from the exhibition 'At Land and Sea', The Marlborough, Brighton

2018 Web feature and online (and in-print) publication of 'The Waves of an Afternoon' project, Untitled Collective Annual Issue

2017 At Land and Sea: An Audiovisual Study of Sussex, Nick Ford Photography Gallery, collaborative exhibition with sound artist Joe Davin, Brighton

2016 Brighton Photo Fringe '16, group exhibition featuring selected images from a study on waves, Brighton

2016 Selected images from 'The Waves of An Afternoon' & 'Kings Caple' projects exhibited at Redwood Café, Brighton

2016 Screen Social Presents: 'MOVE', screening of 'Dance to Gnossienne #1'hosted by The Book Club, London-

2015 Diálogos na Contemporaneidade: Tecnociência, Humanismo e Sociedade / Contemporary Dialogues: Technoscience, Humanism and Society at Univates, screening of 'Experiment No. #1', Brazil

2014 Lets Dance International Festival, screening of 'Panacea's Score', Phoenix Leicester, Leicester

Selected awards, grants and residencies

2023 Recipient of the Richard and Siobhán Coward Foundation, Analogue Photography Grant for the project ‘Perceiving Phytochrome’,

2023 Grant for Roots, solo exhibition at Arch 28 Gallery, Worcester, awarded by the Centre for Digital Cultures and Innovation, University of Brighton

2022 Grant for Photosymbiosis, solo exhibition at ONCA Gallery, awarded by the Centre for Digital Cultures and Innovation, University of Brighton

2022 Winner of ONCA Gallery’s Open Call,

2022 Shortlisted for the Royal Photographic Society Postgraduate Bursary,

2019 Honourable mention of 'Oak tree near Crummock Water' for the Monochrome Photography Awards, Professional Landscape Photographer of the Year category

2017 Photograph 'Out to Ftena' winner of the 'smartshots' submission category for the Black+White Photography competition