About
James Berrington is a visual artist based in London, UK. His practice primarily centres on photography but also spans print making, text, sound and moving image. Drawing from both original work and found objects and images, his work explores intersections of personal and universal narratives.
At the core of his research-driven practice lies an exploration of historical and contemporary themes, particularly within landscape, maps, objects and symbolism. Informed by socio-political dynamics, James’ interests encompass diverse subjects such as the English landscape, personal and national identities, the nuanced meanings embedded in ordinary objects, the significance of home and the complexities of housing markets. Recent work has addressed mental health linked to LGBTQ+ identity and symbolism attached to English identity.
James holds an MA in Fine Art (Distinction) from the Slade School of Fine Art, London (2022). He also holds a BA in Photography, an MA in Health and Social Policy and has a background as a practitioner and national policy expert in social housing.
He has exhibited widely in group shows throughout the UK and internationally, and he was selected for Bloomberg New Contemporaries in 2016. His work has recently been acquired for the UCL East Public Art Collection.
Qualifications
2018 - 2022 MA Fine Art (Distinction), Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, London
2011 - 2015 BA (Hons) Photography (1st Class), University of Westminster, London
1994 - 1997 MA Health & Social Policy, London Metropolitan University
1983 - 1986 BA (Hons) Social Studies, Liverpool John Moores University
Awards, Commissions
2023 Royal Photographic Society’s International Exhibition 165 - shortlisted
2023 Granta Magazine - Images from Great North Wood selected for Granta 164: Last Notes. The online edition also includes a poem written in response to the images and birdsong work by the poet and academic Jonathan Skinner, along with a link to GNW Field Recording, 2022.
2022 University College London East Art Collection - work acquired, selected by the Director of the Slade School of Fine Art - Kieren Reed, the President and Provost of UCL - Dr Michael Spence, and the Pro-Provost UCL East - Paola Lettieri
2019 Slade Print Fair Scholarship, Slade School of Fine Art, London
2019 Tate Gallery Christmas cards - commission, two cards produced and sold by Tate Gallery
2016 Royal Photographic Society International Photobook Exhibition - selected for The Place of Home
2015 Caparo Award - Media Arts & Design, awarded by University of Westminster to best faculty graduate
2015 MACK First Book Award 2015 - nominated by David Campany for The Place of Home
2014 Arts in Health Student Art Commission - selected. Joint Central & North West London NHS Arts and University of Westminster commission to work with mental health hospital in-patients to create a permanent artwork
2012 Common Ground: A Critical Reader, David Chipperfield (Ed) for 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale - Image selected to illustrate chapter by author & journalist Robert Bevan
Selected Exhibitions
2024 - SALON 24, Photofusion, London
2023 - Shutter Hub Open 23/24, Alison Richard Building, Cambridge University
- Yearbook 2023, Shutter Hub online exhibition
- Colour/Print/Poetry, online exhibition, Slade School of Fine Art, London
2022 - MA/MFA Degree Show, Slade School of Fine Art, London
- SPIIIIINELESS, UCL Art Museum, London
- Lonely Puddles, White Conduit Projects, London
2021 - When Was the Last Time You Saw the Sea? Youkobo Art Space, Tokyo
- Colour/Collage/Poetry, online exhibition, Slade School of Fine Art, London
2020 - Shutter Hub Yearbook 100, online exhibition and print publication - selected
- Terrain Vague, Slade Research Centre, London (Cancelled)
- Words to be Looked At, Wolfson College, University of Oxford (Cancelled)
- Intimacy Spills, Barbican Arts Group Trust, London
2019 - MA/MFA Interim Show, Slade School of Fine Art, London
- Hot Sheet, The Department Store, Brixton, London
- Protest! Voices of Dissent in Art and Text, University College London
- The Nomenclature of Colours, Slade Research Centre, London
- Visions of Protest: Blake the March, Small Press Project, Slade Research Centre, London
2019 - Fast Forward: Women in Photography, Slade Showcase, London
2018 - Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, London
- SALON/17, Photofusion, London
2017 - London Independent Photography Exhibition, Old Truman Brewery, London - selected by Alex Bamford, Gemma Barnett and Julia Fullerton-Batten
- National Art Open, Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, London
- Peaches and Cream 2017, Photofusion, London
- Burning with Pleasure, Photofusion, London. Photobook The Place of Home - selected by Magali Avezou
- Bloomberg New Contemporaries - Institute of Contemporary Arts, London.
2016 - London Independent Photography Exhibition, Espacio Gallery, London - selected by Max Houghton, Melanie King and Michelle Sank
- Royal Photographic Society International Photobook Exhibition
, selected by David Campany, Lucy Kumara and Dewi Lewis.
Espacio Gallery, London
Impressions Gallery, Bradford
- Topography of Modern Life - The Student Hotel, Amsterdam
- Bloomberg New Contemporaries - Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool
- Topography of Modern Life - 71a Gallery, London
2015 - Media, Arts & Design 2015 Graduate Showcase, London Gallery West, University of Westminster
- University of Westminster Photography Degree Show, Free Range, London
2014 - Nunhead Open 10, London
2013 - London Independent Photography Exhibition, Strand Gallery - selected by Francis Hodgson, Colin Pantall and Roelof Bakker
- Observations: Contemporary Documentary Photography, London Gallery West
2012 - Nunhead Open 9, London
Collections
2022 Work acquired to be part of the University College London East Public Art Collection, selected by the Director of the Slade School of Fine Art - Kieren Reed, the President and Provost of UCL - Dr Michael Spence, and the Pro-Provost UCL East - Paola Lettieri
Media
Source Magazine - Book Review of Great North Wood Source Magazine No 113 Winter 2023/2024
Great North Wood, poem by Jonathan Skinner in Granta 164: Last Notes, written in response to images and sounds of the Great North Wood.
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2016
Artlyst Bloomberg New Contemporaries Unveiled For 2016 Liverpool Biennial
Hero Bloomberg New Contemporaries Meet the boundary-pushing young UK artists shaping the future of art
iD/Vice Topography of Modern Life explores the buildings that surround us
Peaches and Cream 2017 Exhibition Video shot by James Berrington for Millennium Images