Stuart Whipps
In 2006 Stuart Whipps was awarded first place in the prestigious Observer newspaper Hodge photographic prize for his ongoing documentation of the redundant Rover automotive works at Longbridge, UK. In 2007 he was selected for an IPRN residency which enabled him to spend two months in Johannesburg creating new work. He has lived and worked in Birmingham since graduating from the BA (Hons) Degree in Photography at the University of Wolverhampton. Stuart has exhibited work extensively, notable shows include Luminous at Rencontres d'Arles, France (2006) and Bill Brandt in Bournville, a commission to create and exhibit new work as part of the Bill Brandt in Bournville group exhibition, at the International project space, Birmingham (2006). In April 2008 he had a solo exhibition at The New Art Gallery Walsall and launched his book featuring the celebrated Longbridge series.
Work in development includes Blaenau Ffestiniog. The town is set in an elevated natural bowl, between the Manod and Moelwyn Mountains on the southern fringes of Snowdonia. In 1949 the Snowdonia national park was created, its borders designated on the basis of ‘natural beauty’. Despite being in the centre of the park, the grey slate waste tips that surround Blaenau Ffestiniog prevented it from being officially included in the national park. As such it is represented cartographically separate from Snowdonia national park and defined in opposition to the notion of a natural beauty.