Peter Watkins United Kingdom, b. 1984

His work deals with the mythologies of the vernacular photograph, and the latent potential of history and memory in the imaginary. Above all his practice is a meditation on the practice of archiving and remembering; exploring how certain material is preserved, lost, or reimagined through processes of memorialisation.

Watkins graduated from MA Photography at the Royal College of Art in 2014 and his recent solo exhibitions include The Unforgetting, Format Photography Festival, and The Unforgetting, OPEN14 Award Winner, Brighton Photo Fringe. Forthcoming exhibitions include a solo installation at Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, and a solo show of The Unforgetting as part of Guernsey Photography Festival as one of 7 finalists. Group exhibitions include SHOW RCA, London, 2014; Planche(s) Contact Photography Festival, Deauville, 2013; Thresholds, Belfast Exposed, Belfast, 2013; and Wonders of the Visible World, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland, 2011.

He has a published book in the Blue Zine series by JSBJ (now Etudes Books) and his self published book Index of Time in collaboration with Tereza Zelenkova was selected as one of the Best Books of 2012 by PhotoEye, with a print from that series now in the collection at the Fotomuseum Winterthur. The book was recently included in the Self Publish Be Happy: A DIY Photobook Manual and Manifesto book—featuring a compendium of books that have defined the self-publishing revolution. 

Reviews of Watkins’s work have recently been featured in The Guardian, Hotshoe Magazine, The British Journal of Photography, 1000 Words Photography Magazine, and American Suburb X. He was recently shortlisted for the Magnum Graduate Award 2015, the Paul Huff Award 2014, the BJP International Photography Award 2014.

Great write up in the Guardian here!
The Unforgetting in a 1000 words here!
Another write up in the British Journal of Photography here!
Nice interview with James Brown in HotShoeInternational here!

Education
12-14  Royal College of Art, MA Photography, Distinction
05-08  University of Westminster: BA (Hons) Photographic Arts,
First-Class Honours Selected Exhibitions

Selected Exhibitions
2015  Evidence, Format Photography Festival, Derby, UK
2014  The Unforgetting, BPF OPEN 14 Solo Exhibition, The Regency Townhouse,
Brighton, UK Show RCA 2014, London, UK
2013  Photo Off, Paris, France
Rural, Mor Ho! Collective, Red Gallery, London, UK
Planche(s) Contact Photography Festival, Deauville, France
Thresholds, Belfast Exposed Photography Gallery, Belfast, UK
RCA WIP Show 2013, Royal College of Art, London, UK
2012  Wonders of the Visible World, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art,
Sunderland, UK
Coal and Steel, Czech Center London, Candit Arts Trust, London, UK
2011  Self Publish, Be Happy / Pop-Up Show, MiCamera Bookstore, Milan, Italy
re:control, The Oubliette, 136 Shaftsbury Ave., London, UK
2010   Meeting / Treffen, Philara Gallery, Dusseldorf, Germany
2008  British Journal of Photography / Nikon Discovery Awards, London Olympia,
London, UK
University of Westminster Photography Degree Show 2008, Truman Brewery T1,
London, UK

Books
2013  Surface Tension, book dummy
2012  Index of Time, edition of 100, self published, with Tereza Zelenkova
les uns blessent, les autres tuent, edition of 50, Blue Zine series,
published by JSBJ (now Etudes)

Residencies and Awards
2014 BJP International Photography Award, Highly Commended
BPF OPEN14 Solo Exhibition Award
Foam Paul Huff Award, Shortlisted
Kunsthistorisches Institute, Residency, Bonn, Germany
2013 Deauville Planche(s) Contact 2013, Residency, Deauville, France
European Graduate Photography Award (formerly Leica Prize), Third Prize
2010 Estonian Artists' Association, Residency, Tallinn, Estonia
2008 Nikon Discovery Award, Shortlisted, London, UK