“Some people take pictures, I find them.” Jane Bown’s words feel especially resonant in Jane Bown: Play Shadow, an exhibition that not only marks the centenary of her birth in 1925, but honours a legacy that continues to shape portraiture across generations.

Working quietly and instinctively for over six decades at The Observer, Bown established a singular path in a profession long dominated by men. Equipped with little more than an Olympus OM-1, natural light, and an acute sensitivity to human presence, she demonstrated that authority in photography does not come from spectacle or technical excess, but from attention, patience, and trust. Her portraits are stripped of artifice yet rich in psychological depth, images that seem to pause time while revealing something essential and intimate about the sitter.

 Play Shadow sheds light on Bown’s remarkable ability to see beyond fame and status. Whether photographing Samuel Beckett, Francis Bacon, Björk, or Queen Elizabeth II, her concern was never celebrity but humanity. Faces emerge from shadow with quiet intensity; eyes meet ours without performance. In just a few frames, often taken within minutes, Bown achieved what many could not in hours: a moment of unguarded truth.

A highlight is the Mirror and the Artist room, where Bown’s work is placed in dialogue with artists she photographed, exploring how artists see and are seen. Portraits of David Hockney, Paula Rego, Duncan Grant, and Bob White are shown alongside works by the artists themselves, creating a thoughtful exchange between image, artist, and subject. Of particular significance is Duncan Grant’s Still Life Group (1955), on public display for the first time since 1956. Likely painted at Charleston, the Bloomsbury artists’ home in Sussex, the work’s painted furnishings and warm modernist sensibility evoke Grant’s deep affection for domestic beauty. Displaying Still Life Group at Newlands House Gallery celebrates Grant’s modernist vision while reconnecting visitors with the local artistic heritage of a key Sussex-based Bloomsbury artist. Bringing this work to light is especially meaningful for me as curator, and for Newlands House Gallery as a cultural hub.

Moreover, this exhibition frames Bown not only as a key figure in twentieth-century photography, but as a bridge across three generations of portrait practice. A contemporary intervention, Show Me to You, forms part of Fast Forward: Women in Photography, featuring University for the Creative Arts alumni. This showcase celebrates Bown’s enduring influence as an alumna of the Guildford School of Art (now the University for the Creative Arts, UCA). Show Me to You features works by Anna Fox, Sunil Gupta & Charan Singh, Karen Knorr, Eileen Perrier, Corinne Whitehouse, and Priyanka Pattni. These artists revisit Bown’s themes of visibility, intimacy, and the ethics of looking, extending her humanistic vision into new conversations around identity, representation, and social change.

In addition, the PB4 Portrait 3-Ways project invited current UCA photography BA Year 1 and MA students to respond to Jane Bown’s photographic legacy and the exhibition Play Shadow by producing three distinct portraits of the same sitter, each using a different lighting approach. Grounded in critical research into Bown’s humanist philosophy, use of natural light, and approach to portraiture, the project encourages reflection on authorship, collaboration, and representation, celebrating creative education.

Marking 100 years since her birth, Jane Bown: Play Shadow reminds us why her work continues to resonate. In a world saturated with images, Bown’s portraits offer stillness, empathy, and light, proof that quiet leadership can cast the longest shadow.

Jane Bown Photos ©️Jane Bown Estate

Duncan Grant Still Life Group (1955) Tempera on board © Government Art Collection, GAC 3654

Photography has the extraordinary power to transport us, evoke emotions, and connect us with places we may never visit in person. Jonathan and Angela Scott’s Incredible Journey: A Love Affair with the Natural World, an exhibition showcasing their remarkable wildlife photography, goes beyond just display. It invites us into a world of breathtaking beauty, resilience, and storytelling, captured through the lens of two of the world’s most renowned wildlife photographers.

Hosted at Newlands House Gallery from 5 April to 18 May 2025, this extraordinary exhibition invites us to embark on an artistic and conservation expedition with Angela and Jonathan Scott, a journey defined by passion, perseverance, and an unwavering love for nature.

As we reflect on the theme of progress and personal growth, I am reminded of a quote often attributed to Sigmund Freud: “The only person with whom you have to compare yourself is you in the past.” This encapsulates Angela and Jonathan’s philosophy. Their work has never been about competition but rather about evolution -pushing boundaries, refining their craft, and expanding their understanding of the natural world.

Through their lens, they transport us to the vast savannas of Africa, the icy expanses of Antarctica, and beyond. Their photographs are not only snapshots but stories, moments frozen in time that narrate tales of survival, beauty, and the delicate equilibrium of nature. From the regal gaze of a lion in the Maasai Mara to the solitary isolation of a lone emperor penguin on the Antarctic ice, each photograph invites us into the lives of Earth’s most magnificent creatures.

Beyond their artistic achievements, Angela and Jonathan Scott are dedicated conservationists, authors, and advocates for the natural world. Their work on Big Cat Diary, their bestselling books, and their ongoing campaigns for wildlife preservation have inspired generations to appreciate and protect our planet.

Their powerful images serve as reminders of the fragility of ecosystems, the urgency of action, and the beauty that still exists if we choose to protect it. Each frame acts as a call to recognise the impact of human activity on the wild and to take meaningful steps toward its preservation.

As you walk through the exhibition, take a moment to reflect on the journey behind each image. These photographs are not just about capturing wildlife; they represent years of dedication, patience, and an unbreakable bond with nature. They invite us to see the world through the eyes of two individuals who have devoted their lives to documenting its wonders.

Perhaps, witnessing their incredible journey will inspire us to embark on our own—to explore, appreciate, and most importantly, to protect the world around us.

Join us at Newlands House Gallery to celebrate the artistry, the legacy, and the urgent message behind Jonathan and Angela Scott’s Incredible Journey.

Jonathan and Angela Scott’s Incredible Journey: A Love Affair with the Natural World, from Africa to Antarctica

Exhibition Dates:
5 April – 18 May 2025
Meet the Artists Thursday 15^th, Friday 16^th and Saturday 17^th May 11am – 3pm
Artists talk Friday 16^th May 6 –7 pm

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