Despair to Serenity – Images from a Photographer’s Personal Journey
Northern Ireland’s Laurie Campbell invited to take part in Scotland’s premier visual arts and crafts open studios event
Laurie Campbell’s blossoming into an extraordinary photographer results from a journey towards recovery through the depths of clinical depression.
Some of her images of animals express powerful emotions, while her landscapes often have a distinct otherworldly feel. The titles of her work – such as Anger, Despair, Lost in Thought, Serenity and Onwards reveal a great deal about her own direction in the past two years.
Laurie, from Magherafelt in Northern Ireland, is one of 10 high-quality photographers selected for Spring Fling 2015 – Scotland’s premier open studios visual arts and crafts event.
She was chosen as part of the Neighbours Scheme set up to involve artists and makers from areas immediately bordering Dumfries and Galloway, where Spring Fling is based.
Until a couple of years ago she was a lecturer in communication – but everything changed with brutal suddenness.
Laurie said: “One day I just imploded and could not go on. I expected the doctor to tell me that I was stressed and needed a week or two off. Instead she asked if I would be surprised to know I had developed severe depression – I said I would be surprised.
“I was advised to work on being kinder to myself and to find something that I loved. I had taken an MFA in photography and really enjoyed that, and had intended to use it as part of my lecturing work.
“I picked up my camera again and started taking pictures. I found I could lose myself in it completely. It slows me down and stops my mind racing at 150mph.”
Eventually Laurie was told that there was no prospect of her returning to her career in lecturing. Since then photography, which was initially a coping strategy, has become central to her life and she is doing ever-growing amounts of professional work.
She said: “The last two years I have been rebuilding my life and learning to live with the longer term effects of the condition. I still hesitate to call myself a photographer yet, I still think of it as my therapy.”
Laurie will be exhibiting at the Grainstore in Stranraer, close to the main ferry terminal between Scotland and Northern Ireland, from 23-25 May.
Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “Laurie’s photography is stunning – it really grabbed our attention with its sophistication and power. Dumfries and Galloway has some superb photographers and her exhibition will stand beside them very well.
“Northern Ireland is one of our closest neighbours and we are very pleased to be strengthening the artistic links between us and also hope to welcome more visitors than ever to join us for Spring Fling.”
Laurie will be among 94 artists and makers, most from Dumfries and Galloway, taking part the length and breadth of this large rural region in south west Scotland.
The other photographers are:
• Phil McMenemy, renowned for his vivid use of colour, despite being colour blind
• Leeming + Paterson who are well-known for their environmental work.
• Roger Lever, vet and wildlife photographer
• Kim Ayres who specialises in creating fantasy scenes
• Laura Hudson Mackay, who is fascinated by pathways into other worlds
• Eric Pye with his love of dramatic natural scenes
• Barry Young who explores manmade features in the landscape
• Michal Sur who often uses infra-red and creates images of startling simplicity and strength.
Details about them can be found on the website at www.spring-fling.co.uk
