Rowan Collinson is a photographic artist based in East Anglia, and recently graduated from Norwich University of the Arts with a first class BA (Hons) in Photography. Her practice focuses on human interaction with natural spaces and the connections between people and place, particularly within the rural landscape of her local area. Through slow, immersive observation, she documents subtle changes within the natural world and human impact on the environment through a range of reflective visual outcomes, both digital and analogue. Sustainability is an important aspect of her practice, and she uses alternative processes with collected natural materials to reduce the environmental impact and create work which directly engages with and responds to the land.
Rowan was a finalist in the Association of Photographers Student Awards 2022, and was nominated for the Photo London x Hahnemühle Student Award long list 2024. Her work was exhibited as part of Free Range, The Truman Brewery, London, and GradFest24, Norwich University of the Arts. As the first Canon Student Representative, she is working with her university and Canon to support and provide opportunities for young people.
She has a particular interest in the curation and creation of photo books, zines and small-scale publications, considering the photograph as a physical object, and broadening the accessibility of photographic art.
Exhibitions
June 2024: Free Range, The Truman Brewery
June 2024: GradFest24, Norwich University of the Arts
2022: Free Range, AOP Student Awards, The Truman Brewery2020: Anna Airy Awards, online exhibition
2019: Anna Airy Awards exhibition, University of Suffolk
2013: Peter Pears Gallery, Aldeburgh
Competitions / Awards
2024: Photo London x Hahnemühle Student Award longlist nominee
2022: AOP Student Awards finalist: Places category
2020: Anna Airy Awards winner
2019: Anna Airy Awards finalist
Selected publication
2024: Norwich University of the Arts: Graduate online showcase
2024: AOP Accredited Courses - Graduates Magazine, Vol 2
2023: 38th AOP Awards Book
2023/24: The Early Music Shop: Highlights Brochure cover photography
2023/24: The Early Music Shop: Recorder Maintenance Guide cover photography
2022: Finn Collinson: The Threshold, Album artwork
2020: Elye Cuthbertson: Covid 19 Compositions, Album artwork
2019-23: English Folk Dance & Song Society: EDS magazine editions
2019: Finn Collinson: Call To Mind, Album artwork
Work within education
2024: Beyond the Frame: assistant exhibition curator, guest speaker and panel discussion member, Norwich University of the Arts, East Gallery
2024: Canon Student Representative: education and outreach work, photography for Canon UK social media
2023: Ipswich High School: workshop leader and guest speaker
2022/23: FolkEast Festival: Youth Moot Workshop Leader
2023/24: GradFest Festival Ambassador, Norwich University of the Arts,
2022-24: Norwich University of the Arts, Student Ambassador, content creator
2022: Ipswich School: guest speaker
Photo credits: Image 2 - Denisa Ilie, Image 4 - Emma Denby