A Brief History,

Abridged version:

Studied Photography at Cleveland College of Art in the late 70's early 80's. Met some incredibly enthusiastic lecturers not just in photography but in all fields of art. They where extremely inspirational. They treated us with respect and conversed with us as valued adults. This was a revelation, us just fresh from school.

I studied for four years and was awarded HND in Applied Design specialising in Commercial Photography.

This was an extremely competitive era in which to pursue a photography career.

I had various photographic jobs some paid some not.

Exhausted my enthusiasm for searching in the end and got a good job working with Museums and Galleries, which I did for over twenty one years.

Eventually we moved to Scotland from the North East of England, North Yorkshire. The landscape is quite similar in parts, but it can be very rugged and bleak. We set up a B&B for a few years but now we have a Holiday Lett.

I had a website called David Currie Photoworks for a while concentrating on picture framing, selling prints and work for Museums. I now just indulgent myself with my photography.

I have a Darkroom in the pipeline, and shoot both digital and film.

So if you fancy a Holiday, their are links for that. Even if Photography is not your thing and you just want to Chill, we have plenty of space up here for that.

Thanks for reading. All the Best Dave & Michelle.

Long Story version:

1978 found me enrolling at Cleveland College of Art and Design on Green Lane Middlesbrough. This marked a period of creative fulfilment. Which sill strongly resonates with me today. I wish I could of appreciated this opportunity more at the time, but we were young. We covered every creative discipline imaginable. Three Dimensional Design, Art History, Sculpture, Ceramics, Still life drawing and Life drawing classes. Yes naked ladies it was a real shock at first, us only just out of school and and confronted with naked middle aged women. Not knowing where to look or or even place your first mark. Do I start from the head or toes as one holds one's pencil outstretched at arms length peering quizzically from behind your easel . As I say the Funny thing was they where mostly middle aged ladies. Maybe they had time on their hands and needed to get out of the house or maybe they need a spark in their lives and liked the eroticism of shedding ones garments in front of young men, who knows. It's just like the graduate. Hello Mrs Robinson we can switch on an extra bar on the fire if your cold.

The college had a full Audio Visual production Studio, with cameras and Audio suite, with the highly acclaimed BBC sound effects records. We had eminence fun in the laying down and splicing together sound tracks, wheres that train, who are though's footsteps, Bang. You've just experienced a fascinating insight into BBC Sounds Effect's record number 7.

Painting too, we concentrated on colour chart exercises. Painting colour wheels of hues and primary's. This created some confusion later as it made understanding the science of colour printing theory in Photography more complex.

Its fascinating how each Art Studio had it's own distinct tapestry of smells . One could of been blindfolded and not got lost.

The print department was one example, housing it's large printing presses, fuelled with heavily laden air, the intoxicating aromas of inks and solvents, added to the creative experience. Likewise the the Sculpture department with it's smell of Fibreglass and resin. All these aromas helped subconsciously in stimulating the senses of the mind.

Photography was one of the subjects studied. We had covered black and white photography and it's many processes in the first two years. It was the era of film emulsion and wet chemical development. A further two years found us having to specialise to gain Higher qualifications for the employment market.

The Photography course I enrolled in was geared towards commercial photography. We moved into a brand new department. Every room had been exclusively designed and fully equipped, housing top notch equipment. Even the darkrooms with new colour head enlargers and the studio spaces that could be partitioned off, for more intimate or contemplative sessions. I have a very funny story of that but that's another time.

Using a range of Studio view cameras, Sinar monorail and medium format Hasselblads with large Strobe studio lighting, we setup and photographed models, still life shots and we even ventured out to shoot industrial photography projects. Processing and enlarging all our own colour work for presentation.

We where set client briefs to work to, just as though we were in the corporate world adhering to the design constraints of art directors and clients. This may call for composing an image to leave space for the addition of text, if this was a requirement of the brief.

We had the luxury of interpreting the briefs in our own creative way, if the guide lines allowed without an Art Director peering over our shoulder.

Our work was critiqued and we had to take on board some harsh criticism at times.

After finishing college I had a range of jobs.

Several unpaid as you had to show willing if you wanted to get a foot hold in this sector.

One assisting an Industrial photographer Ian McCann, where we photographed a lot of brick walls, this was at a brick works. They built them we photographed them displaying their range of machine made bricks.

One of the key elements was to turn up at Photographers Studio and ask to show your portfolio, on the off chance of getting work thrown your way or keeping you in mind.

One was a Studio that concentrated on Glamour and Lingerie work. The Photographer looked at my work smiled and said I have ex students turn up here all the time. My hopes where thwarted again.

Working at Tony Gilberts in Newcastle a large Commercial photography studio with a strong international portfolio. One of the the Assistants had moved up to a senior level freeing up a post. I travelled their for months working at the Studio but the lead Photographer was in no hurry to appoint a replacement. It was an amazing place. All in-house lab processing. A massive studio with hanger doors allowing vehicles access. Big enough for several room sets. It would have been the icing on the cake, but I couldn't keep working for nothing. Darkroom printing in a shop in Middlesbrough (Trojan Photographic), They where in a state of flux going through a re-branding and needed a black and white darkroom technician to keep the business ticking over. Unfortunately it didn't land me the job at the end. They brought in their own staff when up and running again.

Interviewed for several more jobs. Answered an add for an assistant, when I showed him my portfolio he showed me the door. Told me, go away and start your own business. Complement indeed. I just wanted a lucky break and a foot in the door to build confidence and experience.

One job was for a photographer in the fire service, another for a Scenes of crime lab technician colour printer in the police force.

One for a Graphic Design studio.

Travelled to London, interviewed for the MOD photography department, You had to state you political bias think I was too red as it was the time of Thatcher.

Landed a job teaching photography in a drop in centre for the unemployed. This was very rewarding able to impart knowledge to others, who had no prospect of higher education. Did this for two years, but nothing long term.

I replied to an add for the Hartlepool Mail news paper, looking to employ on a full time trainee photographer, it came with the use of a company vehicle, probably a van.

They told me they had been inundated with many fine photographs, but where unable to offer me an interview. However they had been encouraged by my work so much as to asked me to spend a day or two in their department to see if they could utilise my talents in a freelance capacity. Their words not mine.

I was looking for a full time permanent position with transport, as I only had the bus to fall back on. How could I meet deadlines and be where I needed to be on time with only a bus timetable in my pocket.

I had a little part time job at an Art Gallery, any freelance work coming my way, could interfere with that position. It was too much of a risk loosing it. Maybe I had cold feet.

In some ways wish I had taken the opportunity to take up their offer. It would of been fascinating experience. But I took another route.

I remember years latter chatting to a press photographer who had nothing but disillusionment about his employers, unsocial hours, standing in the cold and rain photographing football. Racing to jobs in their own cars, hoping to meet deadlines. Rubbish money, it was slight compensation listening to all their stories of woe. I bet they weren't so bad all the time. Unless you chased employment in other areas you stood little chance of success.

My part time Art Gallery job payed off and I was, rewarded with full time position as an Technician/Driver for Cleveland County Museums and Galleries Service.

They were very progressive in their outlook and collections policy. This suited my Arts background. I worked along side other technicians in developing and designing exhibition displays. I travelled far and wide delivering and collecting Art. Installing exhibitions in the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, London the House of Commons and the Town Hall on the Isle of Lewis.

I was actively encouraged to produce photographic exhibitions, for the heritage centre on the local archaeology.

I had three exhibitions and a book.

I had many happy years of employment, twenty one in all but I moved on and forward to the top of Scotland. Good Jobs don't stay good forever.

Now I just do photography for me.

I have so many friends who worked in the photography sector and are so disillusioned with product shots and weddings, they never pick up a camera because they are not getting paid, Sad.

My wife and I started up a holiday lett, so if people have a love of photography and wild places, come to stay it would be great to see you, and maybe you can join me in my photographic endeavours.

List of Film Photographers that have inspired : Man Ray, Bill Brandt, Ralph Gibson, Jeanloup Sieff, Don McCullin, Steve McCurry, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Bob Carlos Clark, David Bailey, Micheal Kenna, Bruce Percy, Ansel Adams, Fay Godwin. There's plenty more but you could go on forever.

Blow-Up is a good film to watch, that captures the swinging 60s London era and plays on Photographic characters like Bailey. Played by the actor David Hemmings.