Photo © Tristan Hooper (2019)
William Arnold (b.1983)
williamlawrencearnold@gmail.com
William Arnold is an experimental, conceptual and documentary photographer, interested in the layers of human and natural history that comprise the making of the landscape, and the role played by the photograph in documenting time and change—the subjective and objective politics of places and their histories.
“William Arnold is an experimentalist, probing photography’s processes to break new ground… In these perilous times, his work considers the importance of ecologies, the everyday and the indispensable forces of nature.”
- Val Williams (Professor of the History and Culture of Photography, London College of Communication)
His first monograph Suburban Herbarium was published by Uniformbooks (2020) and reprinted (2022) with his work showcased in various publications and periodicals including: The Guardian, New Scientist, De Standaard, Source and Resurgence & Ecologist Magazine.
The book SUNSPOTS (2023) was released on William Arnold’s own label Bare Pipes Press. The book and a print from the series is held in the collection of the National Art Library, V & A Museum, London.
He lives and works in west Cornwall, UK.
An abridged CV can be found below.
Education:
MA Photography - Photography & The Land (University of Plymouth 2014)
BA (hons) History (University of Lancaster 2004)
Publications:
SUNSPOTS (2023) Bare Pipes Press - with essay Mortal Remains by Professor Val Williams.
ISBN 978-1-3999-4434-2
Suburban Herbarium (2020) Uniformbooks - with foreword by Mark Cocker and essay by Professor Val Williams.
ISBN 978 1 910010 23 5
The Last Hundred (2019) Guillemot Press
March 2018 - CURCURBITA MAXIMUS on Antler Press
February 2016 - Sacred & Absurd: Votive Offerings At The West Penwith Holy Wells (Antler Press)
October 2014 - Making Time (Self-published / Making Time Collective)
Selected recent press, online & print:
Pioneers - Article for Apples & People - Hereford Cider Museum/ National Trust (2022)
‘Graft Scars’ included in Caitlin De Silvey’s essay Becoming Apple: Woven In Vegetal Fabric | On Plant Becomings, Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain, Luxembourg, 2022.
Photography & Culture, Vol 14, Issue 4 (2021)
New Scientist, Issue 3306, October 31st 2020 Suburban Herbarium (Print & online)
Source Photographic Review. Issue 102. Review by Clare Grafik
Resurgance & Ecologist Magazine, Tin Can-Firmament & Quarantine Herbarium (October 2020)
Suburban Herbarium centre-fold feature De Standaard, Belgium, June 17th, 2020
Suburban Herbarium centre-fold feature The Guardian, June 2nd 2020
Caught By The River - review by Rob St. John, May 2020
September 2017 - Photo Primitive, Manor Magazine, Issue 21
August 2017 - Financial Times Weekend 'Possessed: The Dangers of The Digital Home' (Paywall) Photographs from Living Spaces for an article by Edwin Heathcote
October 2016 - Oh Comely (Issue 31) 'To The Edgelands' feature on Suburban Herbarium by Frances Ambler
June 2016 - Interview with Diva Harris at Caught By The River
April 2016 - Review of Sacred & Absurd book by Ian Humberstone
Recent Exhibitions :
2023
Tides - An Tobar, Isle of Mull (SOLO)
Beyond Silver - curated by LAPC at Hive Gallery, Birmingham
2022
SEEDHENGE - Special Installation at Kestle Barton (SOLO)
Veg Et Alia - Grays Wharf, Penryn (SOLO)
Habitats as Heritage - Kresen Kernow. Curated by Jane Darke & Andrew Tebbs.
2021
Thresholds (The Unamed) Anima Mudi (Online Mixed Exhibition)
Tides - An Lanntair, Stornoway
Some Interesting Apples - Wild & Seedling Pomological Exhibition and research at Kestle Barton in collobaration with James Fergusson
2020
Newlyn & Exchange - The Engine Room at Exchange - various works (SOLO)
Radical Botany - Eden Project - works from Suburban Herbarium
2019
Sea Garden at RAMM, Exeter - works from Holdfast - a collaboration with Mollie Goldstrom
Library of Plants - Engine Room, Exchange Gallery - collected works by particpants in my public workshop of the same name.
Official Secrets | Cauliflower Fields at Backlane West with Robin Dowell and Mollie Goldstrom.
2018
Anima Mundi - Mixed Winter Exhibition
Suburban Herbarium - Kestle Barton (SOLO)
Muir Is Tir (Sea & Land) An Lanntair, Stornoway & Edinburgh College of Art
In Search of Darkness - Project Space, Grizedale Sculpture Park in association with Lumen Studios
2017
'O' - artdotearth - Dartington
Shadows II: Natural Transformations - London College of Communication
Photo Pioneer | Photo Primitive - St. John on Bethnal Green - in association with Photography and The Archive Research Centre, UAL, London
2014
MAKING TIME: New Photographic Constructions - Penwith Society Gallery, St. Ives - co-curator and exhibitor (Nick Hughes, Andy Hughes, Hannah Guy, William Arnold, Oliver Raymond-Barker)
Beyond The Camera - Pingyao International Photography Festival, China
2013
Royal Photographic Society - 156th Annual International Print Exhibition
2012
Magnum Photos, London – IdeasTap Photographic Award
Accolades, awards etc.
Cultivator (European Regional Development Fund, Arts Council England & Cornwall Council) Creative Investment Grant (2022)
Arts Council England - DYCP Grant Awarded (2020)
Awen Medal for The Last Hundred - Gorsedh Kernow (2020)
Royal Photographic Society - 156th Annual International Print Exhibition (selected artist - 2 photographs)
Magnum Photos - Ideas Tap Photographic Award - Finalist and Conceptual Category Winner (2011)
Writing
Review of Botanical by Samuel Zeller (Hoxton Mini Press) for Caught by The River (2018)
Pioneers - Wilding Apples of The Camborne & Redruth Mining District for Apples & People, Hereford Cider Museum/National Trust
Review of Annie Lord’s - Neighbouring Orchard - (2022)
Field Trips | Public Engagement
Some Interesting Apples - Wild & Seedling Pomological Exhibition at Kestle Barton (2020)
Quarantine Herbarium (2020)
Some Interesting Apples, Kestle Barton (2020- )
Alluvial Strands for Groundwork Art (2018)
Library of Plants - public workshop and exhibition for Newlyn & Exchange Galleries. (2019)
Teaching
Public workshops, lectures etc. for clients including: Bath Spa University, CAST, Tate St. Ives, Newlyn & Exchange, Groundwork Art
William Arnold teaches on the BA Marine & Natural History Photography programme at Falmouth University.
He has previously taught photography at Truro & Penwith College, Cornwall, Bath Spa University and Plymouth University
Residencies & Research
Guest Projects / LAPC, Sustainable Darkroom (2020)
Artist - Consultant for Agri/Culture 2.0 with Paul Chaney & Kathrin Bohm at Kestle Barton (Arts Council England funded, 2020)
In Search of Darkness, Grizedale Forestry Commission & Lumen Studios (2018)
Shortlisted for the Eden Project/FoAM Residency: Invisible Worlds (2018).
Muir Is Tir (Land & Sea) An Lanntair, Stornoway (2017)
Dartmoor Arts Project (2014)