Lynda Laird is a documentary photographic artist whose work interweaves research, archival material, photography, moving image and sound. Her practice is centered on exploring the materiality of landscapes, often employing camera-less techniques and integrating materials directly sourced from these environments to create images that physically embed traces of the landscapes' history and essence into the work.
Lynda recently worked as the photographic artist in residence at the Royal Astronomical Society, where she focused her research on the celestial discoveries of the 18th century astronomer Caroline Herschel. She was awarded an Arts Council project grant to turn her research into a touring installation which was shown at the Royal Astronomical Society, Jodrell Bank First Light Pavilion, The Herschel Museum, Solaris Gallery and the Orkney Science Festival.
Lynda also works as an Associate Lecturer on the MA in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism at London College of Communication, and as a picture editor at the New Statesman and New Scientist.
Education
MA Documentary Photography and Photojournalism, London College of Communication (Distinction)
Awards & Grants
Prospect Cottage Artist Residency, Dungeness, selected Artist 2024
Annie Maunder image innovation award, shortlisted, Greenwich Maritime Museum, London, 2022
Arts Council England project grant, 2022
Royal Astronomical Society, Photographic Artist residency 2019-2020
Planche (s) contact Festival, Deauville, selected artist residency, 2017
Nominated for the Magnum graduate photographers award, 2017
Dying matters - Celebrating life in the face of death - Winner, 2017
Planche (s) Contact, le Prix de la foundation Louis Roederer - Winner, 2016
Planche (s) contact Festival, Deauville, selected graduate artist residency, 2016
PX3, Prix de la Photographie, Paris, Highly commended, 2015
Close up Women in photography/Metro imagining, mentorship, 2015
Exground film festival, selected, 2015
Craft photographer of the year, Winner, 2015
Exhibitions
An Imperfect account of a comet, Orkney Science Festival, September 2024.
For Want of (not) Measuring, Project78 & Solaris, August 2024
Royal Academy Summer Show, 18 Jun 2024 – 18 Aug 2024
An Imperfect account of a comet, Solaris, St Leonards on Sea - January 2024 - March 2024
An Imperfect account of a comet, Jodrell Bank, First Light Pavilion, November 2022 - 16 April 2023
An Imperfect account of a comet, St Mary's Church, Slough, October 2022
Astronomy Photographer of the Year, Greenwich Maritime Museum, London, Sept 2022-Aug 2023
An Imperfect account of a comet, Royal Astronomical Society, London, Sept 2022
An Imperfect account of a comet, Herschel Museum Bath, Bath, Aug 2022-Oct 2022
An Imperfect account of a comet, St Laurence's Church, Slough, Aug - Oct 2022
Solaris summer show, Solaris, St Leonards on sea, Aug - Oct 2022
Isle Launch - Hotel Elephant Studios, London, 2019
Out of the Woods of Thought, Inside the Outside, Argentea Gallery, Birmingham, 2018
Elastic, Old Girls Club, Cork Photo Festival, Cork, Ireland, 2018
Planche (s) contact photography festival, Deauville, 2017
Dying matters - Celebrating life in the face of death, touring show, 2017
Planche (s) contact festival, Deauville, 2016
Landscape, Telegram gallery, London, 2016
In the forest of things, London College of Communication, 2016
Urban bee keeping, The Peckham Pelican, London, 2015