About

Sophie Gerrard (Scottish, b.1978) is an award winning international artist who has worked within the field of photography for 14 years. Her practice is characterised by sensitive and evocative visual exploration of the natural environment and landscape and our relationship to it. The central concerns are people, environmental connection, identity and belonging, drawing from archives and personal narratives. Her work is often as much an exploration of others’ lives and connections with landscape as her own.

Sophie’s work has been included in numerous contemporary photographic catalogues, and has been exhibited and published internationally.

Selected exhibitions include Paris Photo (Paris), The Martin Parr Foundation (Bristol), The Photographers’ Gallery (London), The Scottish National Portrait Gallery (Edinburgh), Impressions Gallery (Bradford), Streetlevel Photoworks (Glasgow), Perth Museum & Art Gallery (Perth), OFF_festival (Bratislava), Unseen (Amsterdam), Flowers East (London), The Arbetes Museum (Norrköping), FORMAT International Photography Festival (Derby), The Fox Talbot Museum (Lacock).

Sophie has been the recipient of a number of awards including the Jerwood Photography Award, a Fuji Bursary, a Magenta Fast Forward Award, the Remote Photography Award, Brighton Photodocument award and she has been nominated for the Prix Pictet several years running.

Her work is held in private and national collections including The National Collection of Scotland, The University of St Andrews Special Collection, Perth Museum & Art Gallery Collection, The Sir Elton John Collection, Couttes Bank private collection and the StatOil Collection.

Sophie has an MA in photojournalism and documentary photography from The University of The Arts London, a BA in visual communication from Edinburgh College of Art and a BA in environmental science from Manchester University.

She is represented by The Photographers’ Gallery in London.

In 2012 Sophie co-founded Document Scotland, a collective of internationally acclaimed photographers dedicated to chronicling the social, cultural and economic life in Scotland.

Sophie’s work has been published in several books including “Tunnock” by Café Royal Books, “The Bigger Picture” published by Impressions Gallery, “New Light” by The Jerwood Foundation, and “Compassion, Commitment, Community” published by The Savitri Waney Charitable Trust, Prix Pictet Brighton Photography Biennial.

Sophie lectures in photography nationally and internationally, she has been a visiting lecturer, lecturer and delivered artist talks and conference at Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh Napier University, London College of Communication, Falmouth University, University of the Highlands & Islands, Hereford College of Art, Southampton Solent University, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Brighton, Newcastle University and University of Sunderland.

Sophie is a member of the board of Trustees of Impressions Gallery in Bradford.

 

Publications
  • Cafe Royal Books Tunnock’s limited edition of 150 copies
  • The Bigger Picture published by Impressions Gallery
  • Doc 001 Document Scotland’s 1st newspaper 2012
  • Seeing Ourselves Document Scotland newspaper 2013
  • The Ties That Bind Digital Magazine 2015 released to coincide with the exhibition of the same name at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.

Exhibitions & Publications
  • 2022 – Document Scotland, Museum Europäischer Kulturen, Berlin
  • 2019 – Drawn To The Land, Perth Museum & Art Gallery. Solo show
  • 2019 – Orkney, The New Craftsmen, London. Group show
  • 2019 – A Contested Land, Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol. Group Show
  • 2019 – A Contested Land, Photo North, Harrogate. Group Show
  • 2019 – 209 Women, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, Group Show.
  • 2019 – Project 16, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool. Group Show
  • 2019 – Project 16, Belfast Exposed. Group Show
  • 2019 – Project 16, FORMAT International Photography Festival, Derby. Group Show
  • 2019 – A Contested Land, Perth Museum & Art Gallery. Solo Show
  • 2018 – The Anthropocene, OFF_festival Bratislava. Solo Show
  • 2018 – We Feed The World, Bargehouse Gallery, London. Group Show
  • 2018 – 10 From The North, An Lanntair, Stornoway. Group Show
  • 2018 – 209 Women, Portcullis House, London. Group Show
  • 2017 – Wildfires, Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, Dunfermline. Group Show
  • 2017 – Drawn To The Land, Fox Talbot Museum, Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire. Solo Show
  • 2017 – When The Light Shifts, Glasgow Womens Library. Group Show
  • 2016 – Common Ground, The Millennium Centre, Cardiff. Group Show
  • 2016 – Artists, farmers & Philosophers Symposium, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. Solo Show
  • 2016 – Northern Light, SIA Gallery, Sheffield. Group Show
  • 2016 – Dundee Science Festival, Drug Discovery Unit. Solo Show
  • 2015 – The Ties That Bind, The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. Group Show
  • 2014 – Beyond The Border, Impressions Gallery, Bradford. Group Show
  • 2014 – Working The Border, Carlisle Photo Festival, Carlisle Railway Station public exhibition, Group show.
  • 2014 – Fotodocument One Planet Living, Brighton Photo Biennial, The Waste House, Brighton, Solo show
  • 2014 – Photography Oxford Festival, Document Scotland Multimedia Screening. Group show
  • 2014 – Common Ground, Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow, Group show
  • 2014 – Face To Face, The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. Multimedia screening. Group show
  • 2014 – Five by Four, Scotland House, Brussels. Group show
  • 2014 – Document Scotland Autumn Salon, Stills Gallery, Edinburgh, Multimedia screening
  • 2014 – Document Scotland Summer Salon, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Inverness, Multimedia screening
  • 2014 – Portrait Salon, Fuse, Bradford, Group Show.
  • 2014 – Survive, London College of Communication alumni show, London
  • 2013 – Protectors of Sight, Hereford Photo Month, The Courtyard Gallery, Hereford, Solo show
  • 2013 – Document Scotland Summer Salon, Stills, Edinburgh, Multimedia Photofilms, Group show
  • 2013 – Unseen Photography Fair, with The Photographers’ Gallery, Amsterdam – Group show
  • 2013 – DOC002, by Document Scotland – Collective self published newspaper
  • 2013 – Seeing Ourselves FotoSpace Gallery, Fife, Group show
  • 2013 – Pulse with Miniclick at Look13, Liverpool Photography Festival , Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool
  • 2013 – “Compassion, Commitment, Community”, Savitri Charitable Trust Publication
  • 2013 – DOC001, by Document Scotland – Collective self published newspaper
  • 2012 – The World In London, The Photographers’ Gallery, London – Group show and online project
  • 2012 – Slideluck Potshow London & Miniclick – 5 years retrospective, Brighton Photo Fringe, Brighton
  • 2012 – Photomonitor – Featured Portfolio Artist for the month
  • 2012 – Uncertain States, Espacio Gallery, London – Group Show
  • 2012 – Uncertain States Issue 10 – collective self published newspaper
  • 2012 – Protectors of Sight – FotoSpace Gallery, Glenrothes – Solo show
  • 2012 – Photography Open Salon – An Eye for An Ear, Galerie Huit Arles, France – Group Show
  • 2012 – Firecracker Diary – Firecracker’s featured European Female Photographers from 2011
  • 2011 – Photovoice Auction of Exceptional Photographs, La Galleria, London – Group Show
  • 2011 – ASA Collective – slideshow, London – Group Show
  • 2011 – Protectors of Sight – Royal Society of Medicine, London – Solo show
  • 2010 – Couttes Private Bank Exhibition – The Photographers’ Gallery, London – Group Show
  • 2009 – “New Light” – Jerwood Photography Awards Publication, London
  • 2008 – Prix Pictet slideshow – Palais de Tokyo, Paris
  • 2008 – Jerwood Photography Award 2007 Exhibition Artists’ Talk – Streetlevel Gallery, Glasgow
  • 2008 – Jerwood Photography Award 2007 Exhibition – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham
  • 2008 – Jerwood Photography Award 2007 Exhibition – Town Hall Galleries, Ipswich
  • 2008 – Visa de L’ani – Bar FlorÈal, Paris – Group Show
  • 2008 – Jerwood Photography Award 2007 Exhibition – Millais Gallery, Southampton
  • 2008 – “E-wasteland” Arbetets Museum, Norrkˆoping, Sweden – Solo Show
  • 2007 – Jerwood Photography Award 2007 Exhibition Artists’ Talk – Jerwood Space, London
  • 2007 – Paris Photo – The Photographers’ Gallery, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris – Group Show
  • 2007 – “Says The Junk In The Yard” – Flowers East, London – Group Show & Catalogue
  • 2007 – “Focus Periphery;Photomeetings 2007” – Galerie Clairefontaine, Luxemburg
  • 2007 – “8 Colours From The Yamato Period” – Galerie Weissraum, Kyoto, Japan
  • 2006 – MA Photojournalism & Documentary Photography – Atrium Gallery, LCC, London
  • 2006 – “Elefest:Eye On The Elephant” – Elephant & Castle Underground, London – Group Show
  • 2006 – Green Elephant – Postgraduate Centre, LCC, London – Solo Show
  • 2005 – 8 Colours From The Yamato Period – Sculpture Court, Edinburgh – Group Show
  • 2005 – “(f)actual; Looking at Documentary” – Napier University, Edinburgh – Group Show
Awards
  • 2019 WINNER: GRAIN Portfolio Award, Derby
  • 2018 NOMINEE: Prix Pictet, Power, Paris
  • 2018 FINALIST: Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award, UK
  • 2018 FINALIST: Fractured Stories, BJP
  • 2015 FINALIST: Remote Photo Festival Prize, Donegal, Ireland
  • 2014 WINNER: Fotodocument One Planet Living Commission, Brighton, UK
  • 2014 FINALIST: Portrait Salon, London, Edinburgh, Birmingham & Bradford
  • 2013 FINALIST: Portrait Salon, London & Bradford
  • 2013 NOMINEE: Prix Pictet, Consumption, Paris
  • 2012 NOMINEE: London Photography Award, London
  • 2012 NOMINEE: Prix Pictet, Power, Paris
  • 2011 NOMINEE: Prix Pictet, Growth, Paris
  • 2010 SHORTLISTED: Terry O’Neill Award, London
  • 2009 NOMINEE: Prix Pictet, Earth, Paris
  • 2008 NOMINEE: Prix Pictet, Water, Paris & Dubai
  • 2008 NOMINEE: Joop Swart Masterclass, World Press Photo
  • 2008 NOMINEE: Sovereign European Art Prize
  • 2008 NOMINEE: Prix Pictet, Paris & Dubai
  • 2007 WINNER: Jerwood Photography Award
  • 2007 WINNER: Fuji Film Bursary
  • 2007 WINNER: Magenta Flash Forward Award, Canada
  • 2007 SHORTLISTED: Deutsche Bank Pyramid Award.

Collections
  • St Andrews University Special Collections
  • Scottish National Galleries Collection
  • StatOil Collection
  • Couttes Bank Collection
  • Sir Elton John Collection
  • Perth Museum Collection

Teaching and talks
  • 2018 – We Feed The World, Gaia Foundation, Bargehouse Gallery, London. ‘Telling the Story of Agroecology: the role media plays’ Panel discussion with John Vidal.
  • 2016 – North East Photography Network, Mining Institute, Newcastle
  • 2016 – Artists, farmers & Philosophers Symposium, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle link
  • 2016 – Northern Light Conference, SIA Gallery, Sheffield link
  • 2016 – BBC Radio 4 Farming Today interview with Fiona Clampin link
  • 2015 – BBC One TV Landward Episode 23 with Sarah Mack link
  • 2015BBC Radio Scotland Out of Doors  interview with Claire White link
  • 2015 – Develop North Photography Festival, Aberdeen link here
  • 2015 – The Ties That Bind, artists’ talk, The Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.
  • 2014 – Beyond The Border, artist’s talk, Impressions Gallery, Bradford.
  • 2014 – Brighton Biennial Photoworks & FotoDocument, artist’s talk, Brighton.
  • 2014 – Talk, See Photography, CCA Glasgow
  • 2014 – Photography Oxford Festival, Shooting Local, panel discussion, Oxford.
  • 2012 – Edinburgh College of Art, Foto Talks, public lecture
  • 2012 – ASA Collective & Firecracker, public lecture and presentation
  • 2012 – Women in photography, The Photographers’ Gallery, London
  • 2012 – The BJP Social Lecture, The Photographers’Gallery & BJP, London
  • 2011 – Seeing Photography Lecture Series, Stills Gallery, Edinburgh
  • 2010 – Women in Photography, The Photographers’ Gallery, Couttes Bank, London
  • 2007 – Jerwood Photography Award 2007, artists’ talks – Jerwood Space, London

Education
  • 2020 – Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • 2015 – PG Cert Blended and Online Learning, Edinburgh Napier University
  • 2007 – Photomeetings 2007 Workshop with Peter Bialobrzeski & Denis Darzacq, Luxembourg
  • 2006 – MA Photojournalism & Documentary Photography, London College of Communication
  • 2005 – BA Visual Communication, Photography, Edinburgh College of Art
  • 1999 – BSc Hons Environmental Sciences, Manchester University.