ABOUT

 

I am a photographic artist living in Orkney.  My work is often about the natural world and in particular the sea, clouds, seaweed, wild flowers and grasses. Ongoing  projects have included the medicinal flora of Orkney and a fascination with the social history of seaweed. Recently I have been collaborating with poet and pal Valerie Gillies on the wild grasses of Scotland on the collection ‘When the grass dances’.

I grew up in the highlands overlooking the Beauly Firth. While at school I set up a darkroom in my bedroom, after being introduced to the process by my art teacher Gordon Corrance . My first camera was a Nikkormat from my Grandfather. Later I was given my Great Uncle’s Mamiya medium format, which I still use.

I studied photography at Napier University in Edinburgh, graduating in 1992. After that I used my photography working with graphic designers and in hospital and community arts.  Although I was pretty late to digital photography I am happy in both worlds now,  often making prints in the darkroom then working on them digitally. I wouldn’t want to be without my Nikon dslrs but I wouldn’t want to be without a darkroom either.

In 2007 I moved to Orkney with my husband, filmmaker Mark Jenkins, when I undertook the ‘Art & Agriculture’ residency with the Pier Arts Centre. We decided not to leave.

In Orkney I have lectured in photography with Orkney UHI on BA and MA courses in Fine Art and Archaeology. I have been fortunate enough to work with Orkney Library & Archive on the photographic archive of Gunnie Moberg  and with Stromness Museum on the archive of Keith Allardyce. I have enjoyed working collaboratively on books over the years and alongside curators as a museum photographer. I’m one half of a creative partnership with Mark Jenkins called Kolekto working in culture, heritage and community work.

ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT OF REBECCA MARR AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION