Shaun McDermott
Programme Director
e: smcdermott@bridgend.ac.uk
t: 01656 669929

Shaun has worked as a Photography Lecturer in a range of UK institutions for over fourteen years. His photography education was undertaken in Leicester, where he achieved his MA in Photography from De Montfort University in1998. He passed his Certificate in Education at the University of East London in 2003.

Shaun has exhibited work in London, Lincoln and Leicester. He won the Picture House Award for Photography in 1998. His work has featured in INSCAPE magazine. He has worked commercially for a variety of clients including: the RSPB, Boots, the Transport Research Laboratory and Southern Archaeological Services.

Shaun’s current practice investigates the modern social and physical landscape as mediated through car travel. The pervasive, familiar nature of this mode of travel is reflected by the familiarity of the photographic image. He also photographs extensively in the Welsh valleys, where he lives.

Aled Rhys Hughes
Lecturer in Photography
e: arhughes@bridgend.ac.uk
t: 01656 669929

Aled Rhys Hughes is a lens-based artist working in south Wales since 1984. He was educated at Carmarthenshire College of Art and the University of Wales, Newport, where he gained a first-class honours degree in Photography. He has worked in higher education since 1990 and now lectures part-time in photography while continuing to pursue his art.

Aled’s main artistic interest is in the landscape, and was initially inspired by striking areas close to his home in south Wales and his family’s home in north Wales. Scotland’s Outer Hebrides and, most recently, Mametz Wood in the Somme in France, have also been subjects for his work, which can be inspired by words and literature.

His work has been displayed in group shows and individual exhibitions for the past 25 years, including at the National Library of Wales, MOMA Cymru, Wales Millennium Centre, Henry Jones Museum, Mission Gallery Swansea, and Off the Wall Gallery Cardiff in Wales, and in various galleries in England, Finland, Switzerland, Italy and France. He has been a regular exhibitor at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, where his work was awarded the Gold Medal for Fine Art in 2006 and the People’s Award in 2008. The work, which won Aled, his Gold Medal was purchased by Glynn Vivian Gallery through a CASW award. His work is also in collections at the University of Aberystwyth, the National Library of Wales and in private collections.

Aled has published two volumes, Môr Goleuni Tir Tywyll (Llandysul, 2004: Gomer) and Rhyw Deid yn Dod Miwn (Llandysul, 2008: Gomer). The latter book won the Welsh Book Council’s Publishing Industry Award in 2010 for the best illustrated book from the previous three years. His work was also included in Welsh Lens (Machynlleth, 1997: MOMA Cymru).

David Lewis
Lecturer in Photography
e: dlewis@bridgend.ac.uk
t: 01656 669929

Before turning to work in full-time photographic education David worked as a staff industrial photographer, a partner in a company of commercial and advertising photographers and as an independent freelance commercial and advertising photographer. He is a former member of the National Council of the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and has been chair of the Wales and Western Region of the BIPP.

Having initially trained in industrial and scientific photography he gained his BIPP Final Professional Qualifying Examination (Birmingham), BIPP Intermediate Professional Qualifying Examination (Salisbury) and became an Associate of the Master Photographers’ Association as well as an Associate of the British Institute of Professional Photographers.

David’s independent commercial photography practice led him to work for national and international companies including, SIMAC (Italy), Lafarge (France), Agfa (Germany), Gardner & Barr (New York), British Gas, Western Power, Associated British Ports, British Steel, Whitbread, Panasonic, BBC, S4C, Ilford, DVLA, National Museum Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union and he was the official photographer for the European Summit held in Cardiff.

His work has been published in numerous catalogues, magazines and brochures and in the books, Venetian Glass, USA; The Life of Rosetti, Japan; From Dowlais to Tremorfa, Wales. David was awarded the NIACE Higher Education Tutor Award for 2009, at the Inspire Adult Tutors and Mentor Awards.

Dawn Woolley
Lecturer in Photography
e: dwoolley@bridgend.ac.uk
t: 01656 669929

Dawn trained as a fine art printmaker at Manchester Metropolitan University. She received a first class undergraduate degree in 2001 and has since developed a photography-based practice that encompasses digital video, installation and performance as well as photo-based installations.

In 2008 she completed an MA in Photography at the Royal College of Art and was awarded a prize for excellence by Land Securities and Art Source. In the spring of 2008 she undertook a three-month studio residency at Cite des Arts in Paris.

Recent exhibitions have included; “Start Your Collection” at The London Art Fair (2009), “Fotomonth” in Krakow, Poland (2007) and solo exhibitions in South Square Gallery, Bradford (2009), The Lighthouse Art Centre in Wolverhampton (2006) and Warsaw Project Space in Manchester (2003). Her artwork is held in a number of private collections in the UK and in the Museum of Photographic Arts in Kiyosato, Japan.

Dawn’s awards and prizes include: Arts Council Wales Production Grant 2009/10; Stiwdio Safle Commission 2009/10; Shortlisted – Man Group Photo Prize, Royal College of Art, 2009; Juror’s Selection Award – The Human Canvas, The Centre for Fine Art Photography, Colorado, 2009; Land Securities Award for Excellence (MA Show), 2008; Shortlisted – Land Securities / Art Source Studio Residency (MA Show), 2008.

Robin Dring
Lecturer in Photography

Robin trained as a photographic artist at the University of Wales, Newport. He received a first class undergraduate degree in 2006 before undertaking an MA in photography at the University for the Creative Arts in Rochester, completed in 2008.

Between 2006-08 Robin was involved in a number of projects both in the arts and education; including a residency with the Courtyard Arts Centre in Hertfordshire, a number of community education projects with the Islington Arts Factory and employment with AimHigher.

Robin’s photographic art practice has been exhibited both independently and in collective exhibitions throughout the UK, with venues including IAF, The Zandra Rhodes Gallery, Ffotogallery, FourSpace and White Space and the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Robin’s work is also held in a number of collections in the UK and in New England.

More recently Robin has worked commercially as a professional photographer specializing in product photography, establishing a photographic studio in South Wales. In addition he continues to work on various documentary projects alongside a number of research organisations in South Wales and the West of England. Robin’s latest commissions include a project supported by The Botanic Gardens of Wales, due for completion in 2014, and a project exploring the Welsh Coast Line for a major heritage survey.

Richard Shaffner
Lecturer in Photography

Richard completed a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at the University of the West of England, Bristol, specialising in Photography. As his work developed from beginnings as a painter to incorporating photographic processes into his art practice, Richard developed skills in the creative application of Photography. He developed his education by completing his PGCE (PCET), again specialising in Photography, at UWE Bristol.

Heralding from the sleepy fishing community of St. Ives in Cornwall, Richard’s work is inextricably linked with the sea and the landscape surrounding him. His work deals with elements of displacement, nostalgia and memory, looking at different ways in which these elements can be conveyed through the photographic format. Richard has exhibited his work in a number of group exhibitions in Cornwall, Bristol and Cardiff.

Before teaching, Richard worked as an Education Facilitator at the Tate St. Ives, as well as a hanging assistant, helping to display the work of many wonderful artists. During his time at the Tate, Richard was lucky enough to work with Richard Long, Antony Gormley, Kosho Ito and Ged Quinn, assisting the artists to set up their exhibitions and display their work. He has also worked as a Digital Imager and Print Technician for a number of different digital imaging companies.

Richard teaches across both years of the Extended Diploma Photography course and is course coordinator for the ED. He also teaches on the full-time and part-time Digital Imagery unit on the BA (Hons) in Photographic Practice, specializing in the Digital Imagery units of the course.