| David Williams
Personal Details
1952 Born Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
1973 BA Stirling University (English / Sociology)
1974 - 80 Professional musician / composer
1980 - present Photographic artist.
1990 – 2014 Head of Photography, Reader, Edinburgh College of Art, (appointed Reader 2003)
2014 – 2017 Reader / Lecturer Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh
2017 Retired form Edinburgh College of Art
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Dreaming Difference - selected works 1981-2022 (solo) 6WS Gallery Edinburgh
2023 (group) Forty Years of The Corridor National Gallery of Iceland Reykjavik
2022 (solo) Cedar Tree - Tofuku-ji Zen Temple, Kyoto from the project series, one taste: (n)ever-changing (2003 - 2009) Summerhall Edinburgh
2022 (group) The Modern Portrait Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2021 (group) By the Seaside: Heritage, Healing and New Horizons Scottish Fisheries Museum Anstruther
2021 (group) Jock McFadyen Goes to the Pictures City Art Centre Edinburgh
2019 (group) The Modern Portrait Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2018 (group) Planes, Trains and Automobiles Transportation Photographs from the National Galleries of Scotland Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2018 (group) In Focus: Scottish Photography City Art Centre Edinburgh
2017 (group) Looking Good: The Male Gaze from Van Dyck to Lucian Freud Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2017 (group) When We Were Young Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2017 (group) The Modern Portrait Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2015 (group) RED Galerie Weissraum Kyoto
2015 (group) A Silvered Light Scottish Art Photography from the City's Permanent Collection The McManus Dundee
2015 (group) Scottish Art: People, Places, Ideas City Art Centre Edinburgh
2015 (group) Dear Scotland: Notes to Our Nation (with National Theatre of Scotland) Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2014 (group) Cairn Gallery Pittenweem
2011 (solo) flow... (Kyoto 2009) (video installation) Galerie Weissraum Kyoto
2010 (solo) Kyoto Temple Work – from the series, ‘one taste: (n)ever-changing’ Daiwa Foundation London
2010 (solo) flow… (Kyoto 2009) Cairn Gallery Pittenweem
2009 (group) Scottish Makars Portraits of Scottish Poets Scotland House Brussels Belgium
2008 (solo) David Williams - Stillness and Occurrence The Avenue (WMG Photography Fund) London
2008 (group) Kaleidoscope New Works on Paper Acquired for Scotland (Annan, Gordon, Morrocco, Picasso, Ruscha and others) RSA Edinburgh
2008 (group) Seeing Scottish Art Now Bellany, Colvin, Curry and others Donna Beam Gallery Las Vegas USA
2007 (group) Digital VD The Ice Box Crane Art Centre Philadelphia USA
2007 (group) The Naked Portrait (Arbus, Avedon, Bacon, Freud, Picasso and others…) Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh and Compton Verney UK
2007 (group) Galerie Weissraum Kyoto Japan
2006 (solo) David Williams ‘Tofukuji Zen Temple’, Kyoto from, one taste: (n)ever-changing Houston Fotofest
2006 (group) Uneasy Spaces New York University Washington Square East
2006 (group) Face to Face City Art Centre Edinburgh
2005 (group) Kaleidoscope Osaka Centre for Contemporary Art Japan (co exhibitors Albrecht Durer, Douglas Gordon, Thomas Struth and others)
2004 (solo) Stillness and Occurrence Gallerie Gangi Reykjavik Iceland
2004 (solo) Findings… Bitter-Sweet Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
2004 (group) Future Face (Wellcome Trust) Science Museum London
2004 (group) Modern Women Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2004 (group) Northern Light City Arts Centre Edinburgh
2003 (group) M.I.L.K. Waitemata Plaza American Express Viaduct Harbour Auckland New Zealand
Sydney Opera House Australia Federation Square Sydney Australia
Vanderbilt Hall Grand Central Terminal New York USA (2001)
London Science Museum UK
2003 (group) Fifteen Years of the Zelda Cheatle Gallery Zelda Cheatle Gallery London
2003 (group) Sons and Mothers Collins Gallery Glasgow
2003 (solo) Stillness and Occurrence Galerie Weissraum Kyoto Japan
2003 (solo) Stillness and Occurrence Galleria Van Der Voort Ibiza Spain
2002 (group) Four Photographers David Williams (‘Stillness and Occurrence’), Gary Fabian Miller, Susan Derges, Patricia Macdonald Richard Ingleby Gallery Edinburgh
2002 (group) Scotland Calls- One Hundred Years of Scottish Photography (Navigator Foundation) Boston Public Library USA (touring)
2002 (group) La fotografia tra storia e poesia (Photography between history and poetry) Photographs From the Fnac Collection Fondazione Nazionale Italiana per la Fotografia Turino, Italy
2001 (group) Sense of Space Noorderlicht Groningen Netherlands
2001 (group) The Fine Art of Photography Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2001 (group) Narcissus Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2000 (group) Significant Others Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2000 (group) Writers of Our Time Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2000 (group) Wish I Was Here Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2000 (group) Expressions Scottish Art 1976-1989 Dundee Contemporary Arts
2000 (group) The Art of Documentary Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
2000 (solo) Stillness and Occurrence Zelda Cheatle Gallery London
1999 (group) Absolut Open- New Art From Scotland Inverleith House Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
1999 (group) VAS Annual Exhibition Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
1999 (group) Murray Johnston's Landscape Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
1998 (group) SAAC Annual Exhibition Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
1998 (group) Other Worldly Zelda Cheatle Gallery London
1998 (group) Spectrum SAAC at the Perth Festival of the Arts
1998 (group) Scottish Music Now Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
1998 (solo) Findings... Bitter- Sweet (projected photo- animation) Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
Touring- Rockefeller Center New York Animation Festival 1999 USA
1997 (group) History- The Mag Collection Image-based Art In Britain in the Late Twentieth Century Ferens Art Gallery Hull Touring- Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh (1998)) Cartwright Hall, Bradford Orleans House Gallery, Twickenham Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne York City Art Gallery Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle Stavanger, Norway (1999) Bergen, Norway
1997 The Face of Scotland - 500 Years of Scottish Portraiture Det National Historiske Museum PA Frederiksborg, Denmark
1997 (group) SAAC Annual Exhibition Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
1996 (group) SAAC Annual Exhibition Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
1995 (group) Light from the Dark Room: A Celebration of Scottish Photography Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh International Festival
1995 (group) The European Face Fotofeis International Photography Festival The Talbot Rice Gallery Edinburgh
Touring- M/F Kronborg, Copenhagen, Denmark (1996) Danisches Kulturinstitiut, Hannover, Germany (1996) Foyer Gallery, Gdansk, Poland (1996) PS Gallery, Poznan, Poland (1996) The Jewish Culture Centre, Krakow, Poland (1996) Fotofurum West, Innsbruck, Austria (1996) Bolsano, Italy (1997) Weesp, Amsterdam, Holland (1997) Alkmaar, Holland (1997) Baltic States (1997) De Warande, Turnhout Belgium (1998)
1995 (group) SAAC Annual Exhibition Invited Artist Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
1994 (group) Let's Face Reality Gallerie D-B-S Antwerp
1994 (group) 'one little room... an everywhere'- A Photographer's Choice Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
1994 (solo) Findings ... Bitter-Sweet (stills) Portfolio Gallery Edinburgh Touring- Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (1995)
1993 (group) Photographing Children Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
1993 (group) European Exercises Gallerie D-B-S Antwerp
1993 (group) Scotland Observed: A Decade of Collecting Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
1992 (group) ICI Fox Talbot Award Nominees Exhibition National Museum of Photography, Film, Television, Bradford Touring exhibition, Europe, North America
1992 (group) The Europeans Arles International Photography Festival France
1991 (group) How to Take a Portrait Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
1991 (group) New Scottish Photography Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh Touring- Houston Fotofest USA (1990) Aberdeen Art Gallery (1991) Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Madrid (1991) Caixa de la Terrassa, Barcelona (1992)
1989 (group) Fox Talbot Award Finalists Exhibition Museum of Photography, Film and Television Bradford
1989 (group) Our Photographic Legacy- Treasures of the National Photographic Collections 1839-1989 National Museum of Scotland Edinburgh
1989 (group) Open Submission Portrait Show Portfolio Gallery Edinburgh
1989 (solo) 'Is': Ecstasies I-XXII Photographers' Gallery, London Touring- Portfolio Gallery, Edinburgh (1989) Derbyshire College of Higher Education (1990) Espace Parallele, Brussels (1992) Stadtisches Museum Abteiberg Munchengladbach, Germany (1994) Sol Mednick Gallery University of the Arts Philadelphia College of Art and Design USA (1999)
1989 (group) Fox Talbot Award Finalists Exhibition Museum of Photography, Film and Television Bradford
1988 (group) Photography in Scotland 1938-88 Recent Acquisitions Scottish National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
1985 (solo) Pictures From No Man's Land Stills Gallery, Edinburgh Touring- Glasgow City Art Centre (1986) Aberdeen Art Gallery (1986) Derbyshire College of Higher Education (1986) Pendle Art Gallery (1987) L'Espace Parallele, Brussels (1992) FNAC L'Etoile, Paris (1988/89) FNAC Grenoble FNAC Orleans FNAC Liege
1985 (group) Image and Exploration Photographers' Gallery London
1983 (solo) Photo Call Glasgow City Art Centre Glasgow Mayfest
1982 (solo) Snap Happy? Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Selected Publications / Articles
2023 Dreaming Difference - monograph Studies in Photography. Edinburgh
2023 The Magazine - Laughter - with Alan Mason The Caseroom Press. Edinburgh
2022 SSHoP Studies in Photography, (Winter) Edinburgh p.68-80 'Is': Ecstasies l-XXll complete
2020 By Leaves We Live / SSHoP Sudies in Photography. Edinburgh
2020 SSHoP Studies in Photography (from 88 Places) Edinburgh. pp.10-14
2019 David Williams (author): On the Passing of Robert Frank. SSHoP Studies in Photography, (Winter) Edinburgh. p. 98.
2019 Portrait, Don Paterson (2008). SSHoP Studies in Photography, (Summer). Edinburgh p. 73.
2018 David Williams (author) review: 'Massive Presence': Instant Stories. Wim Wenders Polaroids. The Photographers' Gallery, London.SSHoP Studies in Photography (Summer) p. 96-99
2018 David Williams (author) review: The Street Philosophy of Gary Winogrand (Geoff Dyer, Univ Texas Press). SSHoP Studies in Photography (Summer). Edinburgh. SSHoP pp. 90-91
2017 David Williams (author) review: 'Nothing Special' William Eggleston Portraits National Portrait Gallery, London. SSHoP Studies in Photography. Edinburgh. SSHoP pp. 90-91
2016 Lawson, J. ‘The Last 20 Years of David Williams’ Practice’ (Interview) SSHoP - Studies in Photography. Edinburgh: Scottish Society for the History of Photography.
2016 (online, peer reviewed journal) ‘Stillness and Occurrence’, with extracts from Rabindranath Tagore’s, ‘Sadhana: The Realisation of Life’. Gitanjali and Beyond Vol 1, No 1 Tagore and Spirituality. Edinburgh: Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies. http://gitanjaliandbeyond.napier.ac.uk/index.php/gitanjali/article/view/29/35
2016 (online, peer reviewed journal) ‘Things’, with an extract from Rabindranath Tagore’s, ‘Sadhana: The Realisation of Life’. Gitanjali and Beyond Vol 1, No 1 Tagore and Spirituality. Edinburgh: Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies.
2016 Monograph – The Royal Wedding 1981. Southport: Café Royal Books. Online link- https://www.caferoyalbooks.com/the-royal-wedding-london-1981-david-williams-110216-500/ )
2015 (online publication) ‘Pictures from No Man’s Land’, Café Royal Books. https://www.caferoyalbooks.com/blog/2015/7/8/pictures-from-no-mans-land-david-williams
2015 (online publication) ‘The Scottish Post Office 1985’, Café Royal Books. https://www.caferoyalbooks.com/blog/2015/8/23/the-scottish-post-office-1985-david-williams
2014 Collaboration with Ali Smith – Michael Clark Portrait, Dear Scotland: Notes to Our Nation. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland.
2013 Smith, G. Photography and Travel, London: Reaktion. p.154.
2010 ‘Two retrospectives by David Williams’, Wynd / Edinburgh Review 130. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Review.
2009 Portfolio Magazine 50, Edinburgh. pp. 108-109.
2008 Brittain, D. ‘David Williams: 88 Places’ (Kyoto Temples), Portfolio Magazine 48, Edinburgh.
2008 The Scottish Show, catalogue. Essay, Normand, T. Nevada: University of Las Vegas
2007 Normand, T. Scottish Photography: A History, Edinburgh: Luath Press. Front cover image, pp.43, 148, 149.
2007 Hammer, M. The Naked Portrait 1900 - 2007, Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland. pp. 76-77.
2007 Summerton, E. et al. Digital VD, Dundee: Hungry Dog Press.
2007 Horiuchi, N. and Warrilow, J. (ed) Chusanan. Osaka: Centre for Contemporary Art.
2006 Houston Fotofest: The Earth, catalogue. (David Williams - one taste: (n)ever-changing Kyoto 2003). Essay, Normand, T. Houston: Fotofest. pp. 173-5.
2006 Kemp, S. Future Face, catalogue, CD Rom. Taiwan: National Science and Technology Museum. p.199.
2006 Crossing the Atlantic… Uneasy Spaces, catalogue. New York: New York University.
2006 Koltun, L. ‘Photography and the Nation’, SSHoP Studies in Photography. Edinburgh: Scottish Society for the History of Photography. P.34.
2005 Kaleidoscope, catalogue. Osaka: Osaka Contemporary Art Centre. P. 15.
2005 ‘David Williams – The Temples Project (Kyoto)’, L Magazine issue 364. Osaka: KeiHanShin L Magazine Company. pp. 030, 035.
2004 Kemp, S. Future Face, catalogue, CD Rom. London: Wellcome Trust. P.199.
2004 Normand, T. ‘David Williams: one taste: (n)ever-changing’, Portfolio Magazine 39. Edinburgh.
2003 CD Artwork, J.S. Bach The 6 Cello Suites, Crear Classics. (collaboration with cellist Phoebe Carrai)
2003 15 Years of the Zelda Cheatle Gallery, limited edition portfolio. Essay, Haworth-Booth, M. London.
2003 Sons and Mothers, catalogue. Glasgow: Collins Gallery.
2002 La fotografia tra storia e poesia (photography between history and poetry): Photographs from the FNAC Collection, catalogue. Milan: Mazotta. pp. 212, 227.
2001 Noorderlicht: Sense of Space, catalogue and CD/ROM. Groningen: Noorderlicht. pp.10-13.
2001 A Companion Guide to Photography in the National Galleries of Scotland. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland. pp 218-19.
2001 M.I.L.K : Family – A Celebration of Humanity, catalogue. London: Harper Collins p. 165.
2001 M.I.L.K. : Friendship – A Celebration of Humanity, catalogue. London: Harper Collins. p. 27.
2000 Wish I Was Here: A Multicultural Anthology, book/cd. ed. Finlay, A and MacNeil, K. Edinburgh: Pocketbooks. cover image, pp. 133-141.
1999 A Companion Guide to Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland. pp. 204-5.
1999 Murray Johnston’s Landscape, catalogue. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland. pp. 46-47.
1998 Findings… Bitter-Sweet, photo-animation VHS Video. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland.
1997 David Williams: ‘Self Portrait’ - SSHoP Annual Photographer’s Lecture 1996 SSHoP Studies in Photography. Edinburgh: Scottish Society for the History of Photography
1997 History: The Mag Collection – image-based art in Britain in the late twentieth century, catalogue. Hull: Ferens Art gallery. p. 94.
1996 Lawson, J. ‘David Williams: Digest of a conversation with James Lawson’, SSHoP Studies in Photography. Edinburgh: Scottish Society for the History of Photography
1995 Light from the Dark Room: A Celebration of Scottish Photography, catalogue. ed. Stevenson, S. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland. pp. 61. 90. 104.
1995 The European Face, catalogue. Edinburgh: Talbot Rice Gallery pp. 34- 35.
1994 David Williams -'Is': Ecstasies I-XXII, catalogue. Essay Stemmler, D. Monchengladbach: Stadtisches Museum Abteiberg Monchengladbach.
1994 Williams, D. ‘one little room… an everywhere’(article), Scottish Photography Bulletin 2. Edinburgh: Scottish Society for the History of Photography.
1994 Lawson, J. ‘one little room’, Creative Camera 329. London: CC Publishing.
1994 Lawson, J. ‘To Travel… To Arrive – Findings… Bitter-Sweet by David Williams’, Portfolio Magazine 20. Edinburgh.
1994 McKenzie, J. ‘Here, there and everywhere’, The List, issue 291. Edinburgh: The List.
1994 Colin, B. ‘Play Me Something’, The List, issue 241. Edinburgh: The List.
1994 Let’s Face Reality, catalogue. Antwerp: Gallery DB-S. pp. 4-5.
1993 Photographing Children, catalogue. Essay, Stevenson, S. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland.
1993 Lawson, J. ‘Postscript to Fotofeis – Just One Picture’, Scottish Photography Bulletin 2. Edinburgh: Scottish Society for the History of Photography.
1992 Nueva Fotografia Escocesa, catalogue. Essays Brittain, D. and Stevenson S. Madrid: Centro Cultural Del Conde Duque. pp. 33-36.
1992 Arles International Photography Festival, catalogue. Arles. 1992 ICI Fox Talbot Award Nominees, catalogue. Bradford: National Museum of Photography Film and Television. p. 23.
1991 New Scottish Photography, catalogue. Essays, Brittain, D. and Stevenson S. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland. pp. 25-28.
1991 Baird, J. ‘New Scottish Photography: the event beyond the frame’, Alba. Edinburgh: Talbot Rice Art Centre.
1991 Lawson, J. ‘These Happy Few: New Scottish Photography at Aberdeen Art Gallery’, Creative Camera 309. London: CC Publishing.
1990 On The Beach (includes Boubat, Erwitt, Frank, Koudelka, Lartigue, Mayerowitz, Nori, Pfahl). Tokyo: Treville.
1990 Flowers, C. ‘Striking Images, Still Lives’, Scotland on Sunday Magazine 18/12/90. Edinburgh: Scotsman Publications.
1990 Williams, D. ‘Murray Johnston – a tribute’(article), Scottish Photography Bulletin 2. Edinburgh: Scottish Society for the History of Photography.
1989 Chandler, D. ‘David Williams – ‘Is’: Ecstasies l-XXll’, Portfolio Magazine 4. Edinburgh.
1989 Bain, A. ‘Developing Nicely’, The List, issue 91. Edinburgh: The List.
1989 Johnston, M. ‘Is: Ecstasies: l-XXll’, The List, issue 91. Edinburgh: The List.
1989 Sun Life Fox Talbot Award Nominees, catalogue. Bradford: National Museum of Photography Film and Television.
1989 Our Photographic Legacy-Treasures of The National Photographic Collections 1839-89, catalogue. Edinburgh: Shutter Press. pp. 130-131.
1988 David Williams portfolio, ‘Pictures from No Man’s Land’. Essay Nori, C. Camera International. Paris: Camera International.
1988 Billen, N. ‘Eighty Seconds Later’, The List, issue 75. Edinburgh: The List.
1987 ‘David Williams – Pictures from No Man’s land’, Creative Camera. London: CC Publishing.
1986 Parkinson, N. ‘Girls in the Picture’ (David Williams – Pictures from No Man’s Land), The List issue 11. Edinburgh: The List.
1985 Monograph, Pictures From No Man's Land: St Margaret’s School for Girls, Edinburgh. Edinburgh: Waterfront & Sausilito CA: Windgate Press USA
1985 Image and Exploration, catalogue. Essay Jonathan Bayer. London: The Photographers’ Gallery. p.24
Selected Commissions and Awards
2018 Nominated for Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy
2008 Nominated for Prix Pictet Award
2001 Nominated for Citibank Photography Prize (Stillness and Occurrence)
2000 Portrait commission- ‘A. L. Kennedy’ National Galleries of Scotland
1997 Winner, Sally Schofield Memorial Prize for Photography
1997 Commissioned by Italian Cultural Institute to co-produce and direct 90 minute live visual accompaniment for Musica Italia BBC Studio 1, Queen St Edinburgh
1996 Nominated for City Bank Private Bank Photography Prize
1995 New work, Source, commissioned for Light from the Dark Room: A Celebration of Scottish Photography National Galleries of Scotland 1995 Chosen as UK representative for The European Face Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh 1994 Commission to curate 'one little room... an everywhere'- A Photographer's Choice National Galleries of Scotland
1993 Commission to make photo-animation with soundtrack- ‘Sunflower Blues’ Gallerie D-B-S Antwerp 1992 Nominated for ICI Fox Talbot Award by Richard Calvocoressi, Curator Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
1989 National Galleries of Scotland Portrait Commission ‘Michael Clark, Dancer’
1989 Commission by Polaroid International to use 20"x24" camera as part of Edinburgh Festival (televised)
1989 Runner-up, Sun Life Fox Talbot Award
1989 Winner, BBC Television Scotland 150 Years of Photography Award
1987 Scottish Arts Council Bursary
1985 Scottish Post Office 350th Anniversary Commission
1983 Official Photographer/exhibition commission Glasgow Mayfest
1983 SAC Commission Photographer-in-Residence St. Margaret's School for Girls, Edinburgh Scottish Arts Council
Recent Conference Presentations
2015 Williams, D. ‘Not Two: Strategies in the Photographic Exploration of Nonduality’ presented to conference, 21st Century Photography: Art, Philosophy, Technique, Central Saint Martins, London. June 2015.
2013 Williams, D. ‘Water and Oneness’, paper presented to conference, Ansel Adams: at the Waters Edge, National Maritime Museum Greenwhich London. Feb 2013.
Collections
City Art Centre, Edinburgh Dundee Gallery of Modern Art Ferens Art Gallery, Hull Fidelity Finance (USA) Collection FNAC International Collection, Paris McManus, Dundee National Galleries of Scotland National Museum of Photography Film and TV, Bradford Navigator Foundation, Boston, USA Polaroid International Collection, New York, Berlin Scottish Arts Council Standard Life Statoil Art Collection St Andrew’s University State Street Bank Victoria and Albert Museum WMG Photography Fund
Various private collections |
