Photographing artwork by George Nuku
(photo: Neil Mclean / National Museums Scotland)
Background
In the final year of my BA in Photography, I was asked to photograph the works of that year's graduating Fine Art students for the university's degree show catalogue. It was then that I began to think about art reproduction and cultural heritage digitisation as a potential career path. I established myself as a freelance photographer after graduating in 2013, and I soon began taking on local commissions and, after a lucky break, photographing events for Kettle's Yard and other University of Cambridge Museums.
After working briefly as a Digitisation Assistant at the Cambridge University Library, I found part-time work in the Photo Collections department at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Over the next 5 years, I photographed a wide range of ethnographic and archaeological collections, as well as events and exhibitions, both in-house and working with external colleagues in other museums. I also continued my freelance work, including a long-term commission for the Art UK sculpture digitisation project, working at more than 30 different venues and locations across the East of England (and later Scotland). In 2019 I graduated with an MA in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism from the University of Westminster.
In 2020, I moved to Edinburgh, Scotland with my partner, where I am now based. I've continued my work as a photographer of fine art, museum collections and events in Scotland, working for clients including the Art Fund, Art UK and the Scottish Arts Club. I have also worked on projects across the UK, including at the British Museum and Kew Gardens. After working part-time as a Gallery Attendant for 3 years, in 2024 I took on a full-time maternity cover role as Lead Photographer at National Museums Scotland.
Approach
As a photographer of works of art and museum collections, I am comfortable working in a studio environment or on location. I've worked in corridors, offices, schools and colleges, museum storage spaces, gardens, country houses, galleries, and even hospitals. I use a range of professional, portable lighting equipment, adapting to available space. I can always advise on space requirements when planning for a project.
Having worked professionally in museums and a university library, I have been trained by collections and conservation staff in the best practices for handling a wide range of objects. Aside from my experience in working with varied collections, I bring to my work an awareness of conservation concerns, as well as some of the ethical issues surrounding cultural heritage collections and their representation.
I am always happy to be led by professional staff in terms of caring for collections during photography, as well as using my technical skills and creativity to translate the vision and intention of an artist or curator into a finished photographic record or interpretation. If you are not sure how to photograph something, I'm equally happy to discuss ways to approach and solve any photographic challenges you may have.
Education and Employment
Education
2019 ∙ MA Documentary Photography and Photojournalism ∙ University of Westminster ∙ London
2013 ∙ BA (Hons) Photography ∙ Anglia Ruskin University ∙ Cambridge
Employment
2024 ∙ Lead Photographer (Maternity Cover) ∙ National Museums Scotland ∙ Edinburgh
2013 - 2024 ∙ Freelance Photographer ∙ Josh Murfitt Photography ∙ Edinburgh and Cambridge
2021 - 2024 ∙ Gallery Attendant ∙ National Galleries of Scotland ∙ Edinburgh
2016 - 2019 ∙ Photo Collections Assistant ∙ Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology ∙ Cambridge
2015 - 2016 ∙ Studio and Digitisation Assistant ∙ Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology ∙ Cambridge
2014 - 2015 ∙ Digitisation Assistant ∙ Cambridge University Library ∙ Cambridge
2013 - 2014 ∙ Studio Practice Supervisor ∙ Anglia Ruskin University ∙ Cambridge
Voluntary work
2023 - 2024 ∙ Volunteer Collections Researcher ∙ National Museums Scotland ∙ Edinburgh
2020 - 2021 ∙ Volunteer Gallery Attendant ∙ Inverleith House ∙ Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
2020 ∙ Voluntary Art Guardian ∙ Jupiter Artland ∙ Edinburgh
2020 ∙ Book Cataloguing Volunteer ∙ National Galleries of Scotland ∙ Edinburgh
2013 ∙ Studio Assistant Intern ∙ Green Lens Studios ∙ London
2010 - 2012 ∙ Volunteer Video Editor (PR) ∙ Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ∙ Sandy
Selected publications
2022 ∙ Power and Prestige: The Art of Clubs in Oceania ∙ Hooper, Steven et al ∙ Skira
2020 ∙ Recording Kastom: Alfred Haddon's Journals [...] ∙ Herle, Anita and Philp, Jude ∙ Sydney University Press
2020 ∙ Grayson Perry: The Pre-Therapy Years ∙ Jones, Catrin and Stephens, Chris ∙ Thames & Hudson
2018 ∙ Oceania ∙ Brunt, Peter and Thomas, Nicholas ∙ Royal Academy of Arts
2018 ∙ Fighting Fibres: Kiribati Armour and Museum Collections ∙ Adams, Julie et al ∙ Sidestone Press
2017 ∙ Another India: Explorations and Expressions of Indigenous South Asia ∙ Elliott, Mark ∙ Adivaani
2016 ∙ Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific ∙ Hooper, Steven ∙ Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Selected clients
The British Museum, Art UK, Art Fund, Kettle's Yard, University of Cambridge Museums, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Fondazione Giancarlo Ligabue, Sotheby's, St John's College School, The Holburne Museum, Victoria Miro, The New Hall Art Collection, Abbotsford: The Home of Sir Walter Scott, Jupiter Artland, Anglia Ruskin University.
If you would like to know more or discuss an upcoming project, get in touch!
In the final year of my BA in Photography, I was asked to photograph the works of that year's graduating Fine Art students for the university's degree show catalogue. It was then that I began to think about art reproduction and cultural heritage digitisation as a potential career path. I established myself as a freelance photographer after graduating in 2013, and I soon began taking on local commissions and, after a lucky break, photographing events for Kettle's Yard and other University of Cambridge Museums.
After working briefly as a Digitisation Assistant at the Cambridge University Library, I found part-time work in the Photo Collections department at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Over the next 5 years, I photographed a wide range of ethnographic and archaeological collections, as well as events and exhibitions, both in-house and working with external colleagues in other museums. I also continued my freelance work, including a long-term commission for the Art UK sculpture digitisation project, working at more than 30 different venues and locations across the East of England (and later Scotland). In 2019 I graduated with an MA in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism from the University of Westminster.
In 2020, I moved to Edinburgh, Scotland with my partner, where I am now based. I've continued my work as a photographer of fine art, museum collections and events in Scotland, working for clients including the Art Fund, Art UK and the Scottish Arts Club. I have also worked on projects across the UK, including at the British Museum and Kew Gardens. After working part-time as a Gallery Attendant for 3 years, in 2024 I took on a full-time maternity cover role as Lead Photographer at National Museums Scotland.
Approach
As a photographer of works of art and museum collections, I am comfortable working in a studio environment or on location. I've worked in corridors, offices, schools and colleges, museum storage spaces, gardens, country houses, galleries, and even hospitals. I use a range of professional, portable lighting equipment, adapting to available space. I can always advise on space requirements when planning for a project.
Having worked professionally in museums and a university library, I have been trained by collections and conservation staff in the best practices for handling a wide range of objects. Aside from my experience in working with varied collections, I bring to my work an awareness of conservation concerns, as well as some of the ethical issues surrounding cultural heritage collections and their representation.
I am always happy to be led by professional staff in terms of caring for collections during photography, as well as using my technical skills and creativity to translate the vision and intention of an artist or curator into a finished photographic record or interpretation. If you are not sure how to photograph something, I'm equally happy to discuss ways to approach and solve any photographic challenges you may have.
Education and Employment
Education
2019 ∙ MA Documentary Photography and Photojournalism ∙ University of Westminster ∙ London
2013 ∙ BA (Hons) Photography ∙ Anglia Ruskin University ∙ Cambridge
Employment
2024 ∙ Lead Photographer (Maternity Cover) ∙ National Museums Scotland ∙ Edinburgh
2013 - 2024 ∙ Freelance Photographer ∙ Josh Murfitt Photography ∙ Edinburgh and Cambridge
2021 - 2024 ∙ Gallery Attendant ∙ National Galleries of Scotland ∙ Edinburgh
2016 - 2019 ∙ Photo Collections Assistant ∙ Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology ∙ Cambridge
2015 - 2016 ∙ Studio and Digitisation Assistant ∙ Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology ∙ Cambridge
2014 - 2015 ∙ Digitisation Assistant ∙ Cambridge University Library ∙ Cambridge
2013 - 2014 ∙ Studio Practice Supervisor ∙ Anglia Ruskin University ∙ Cambridge
Voluntary work
2023 - 2024 ∙ Volunteer Collections Researcher ∙ National Museums Scotland ∙ Edinburgh
2020 - 2021 ∙ Volunteer Gallery Attendant ∙ Inverleith House ∙ Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
2020 ∙ Voluntary Art Guardian ∙ Jupiter Artland ∙ Edinburgh
2020 ∙ Book Cataloguing Volunteer ∙ National Galleries of Scotland ∙ Edinburgh
2013 ∙ Studio Assistant Intern ∙ Green Lens Studios ∙ London
2010 - 2012 ∙ Volunteer Video Editor (PR) ∙ Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ∙ Sandy
Selected publications
2022 ∙ Power and Prestige: The Art of Clubs in Oceania ∙ Hooper, Steven et al ∙ Skira
2020 ∙ Recording Kastom: Alfred Haddon's Journals [...] ∙ Herle, Anita and Philp, Jude ∙ Sydney University Press
2020 ∙ Grayson Perry: The Pre-Therapy Years ∙ Jones, Catrin and Stephens, Chris ∙ Thames & Hudson
2018 ∙ Oceania ∙ Brunt, Peter and Thomas, Nicholas ∙ Royal Academy of Arts
2018 ∙ Fighting Fibres: Kiribati Armour and Museum Collections ∙ Adams, Julie et al ∙ Sidestone Press
2017 ∙ Another India: Explorations and Expressions of Indigenous South Asia ∙ Elliott, Mark ∙ Adivaani
2016 ∙ Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific ∙ Hooper, Steven ∙ Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Selected clients
The British Museum, Art UK, Art Fund, Kettle's Yard, University of Cambridge Museums, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Fondazione Giancarlo Ligabue, Sotheby's, St John's College School, The Holburne Museum, Victoria Miro, The New Hall Art Collection, Abbotsford: The Home of Sir Walter Scott, Jupiter Artland, Anglia Ruskin University.
If you would like to know more or discuss an upcoming project, get in touch!