Cyanotypes for Beginners

A photographer since 1978, Ricky was educated at Wallace Hall Academy, Closeburn and moved to Middlebrough to study Interior Design with Fine Art & Graphic Design. While undertaking these studies he found that he enjoyed the creativity afforded by the photography components on the course and subsequently studied photography for a further four years in Newcastle and in Leeds.

On qualifying his first professional job was anything but creative, working for Cleveland Constabulary in evidential photography in their Scientific Aids Department. This did however provide a strong technical grounding in a number of specialist forms of film based photography and processes which would prove beneficial to future employment.

From this technical grounding and returning to Scotland, Ricky then worked in photographic laboratory management and training in Glasgow before taking up a Senior Photographer post with the Scottish Office working in video production, editing, multi-media and television for 4 years before being invited by Dumfries & Galloway College to deliver photography as a service to their fine art and newly established graphic design programmes. Living in Lochmaben this seemed an ideal opportunity and Ricky subsequently developed and ran a new set of photography courses to HND level that received numerous best practice evaluations by reviewers. He also retained a significant folio of private practice.

Ricky subsequently headed up George Street School of Art in Dumfries and the Creative Industries Section.

As a curriculum manager and curriculum designer he developed a host of innovative programmes for the college as he was keen to see interdisciplinary activities in the creative arts. He left in 2017 so that he could focus on his own photographic work.

Ricky is a member of the AMO3BA Illustration & Photography Collective and a Shambellie House Trustee. He will tell you that just as importantly, he is the bass player with local bands Six Hands and Eight Hands.