Robin Coutts - Inner Light Photography

Statement

I am a Priest/Artist working in the Portsmouth area working in the medium of critical and fine art photography. I am concerned to identify and develop the spiritual in the material.

The daily practice of a visual artist is the making of work and the daily practice of a priest is prayer. These are the starting points for my work. The work is largely abstract, dealing with text, fragments, layering and the play of hiddeness and disclosure or abstractions of the world around us. I aim to make work that has depth and an organic 'feel', within the medium of silver based black and white photography.

A.D. Coleman, writing about the work of Carl Chiarenza, identified three strands in his work: "Chiarenza ...asks us to keep in mind exactly what we are looking at, that tangible yet negligible 'stuff' - while at the same time following the impulse to project ourselves into the imaginary spaces the work implies, all without losing sight of the fact that the symbol system enabling that perceptual and philosophical challenge is photographic representation" (A. D. Coleman Photo review Vol. 21)

I seek to provide the viewer with a similar challenge. It is one which I believe to be both creative and redemptive. For me the process of making photographs using a view camera - that is setting up the camera, looking intensely and continuing to gaze whilst making adjustments - can become a contemplative exercise, an experience of oneness and extended time.

Robin Coutts, June 5th 2005

About the Artist

Robin Coutts was born on the Isle of Wight in 1952. He served for twelve years in the Merchant Navy, working first for Shell Tankers UK ltd, then the Natural Environment Research Council as a Navigating and Deck Officer, travelling world wide, including a memorable trip to the Antarctic.

His vocation to the priesthood led to a change of direction and in 1980 after being accepted by the church, he began training at Salisbury and Wells Theological College.

Since leaving Salisbury, Robin has been a priest in the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth. He has been a serious photographer for the past 19 years, completing an MA in Art Design and Media in AD 2000.

His work has been exhibited regularly in group, collaborative and solo exhibitions, in venues in the South of England and London. It is also held in private collections.