New Brighton exhibition explores our changing relationship with nature through two decades of photography

The solo exhibition titled, “Woodlands, Rivers, Coasts”, was curated by University of Brighton photographer and researcher Fergus Heron and features large-format colour photographs made across locations in the Scottish Highlands and South-East England over a twenty-year period. Rather than simply showing images of the landscapes, Fergus invites visitors to reflect on how photography can be an active medium of understanding place, ecology and our connection to the environments around us.

Using a traditional view camera, Heron's photographs capture moments of intimacy and attentiveness within natural settings, challenging conventional ideas of landscape photography that often emphasise distance, observation and separation.

Instead, the work which will be on show at the Phoenix Art Space from June 24 to 28, proposes a more relational approach, exploring how photography can reveal the interconnectedness of nature and culture.

Fergus, who is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for MA Photography at the University of Brighton, said: “The motivation for this exhibition is to invite reflection on photography as a way of knowing place. Photography does not simply record the world around us; it actively shapes how ecologies can be seen and understood. The photographs emerge from repeated encounters with particular places over many years. Through them, I hope audiences can reflect on ideas of connection, interdependence and the ways we position ourselves within the natural environments we inhabit.”

The exhibition also showcases the role of practice-based research within the University of Brighton, demonstrating how creative work can contribute to wider conversations around ecology, place and environmental understanding.

Fergus said: “Exhibitions are an important way of sharing research publicly. They create opportunities for people to come together, celebrate creativity and engage with critical questions about the world around us. This exhibition is also part of a longer-term ambition to build new collaborations around photography, ecology and place, strengthening partnerships between the University of Brighton, Phoenix Art Space and the wider creative community.”

The exhibition is funded through the University of Brighton’s Research and Knowledge Exchange and forms part of the university's commitment to producing research that engages public audiences and contributes to contemporary social and cultural debates.

Fergus Heron is an internationally recognised photographer, writer and editor whose work has been exhibited at venues including Tate Britain and the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World. His photography and critical writing have appeared in numerous publications exploring contemporary photography, landscape and visual culture.

Woodlands, Rivers, Coasts is open to the public at the Phoenix Art Space in Brighton from Wednesday June 24 until Sunday June 28, 2026, from 12-5pm each day.