Philip Lavery

Philip J. Lavery, a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, Scotland, is a Crieff-based visual artist whose practice is an evolving, painterly exploration of light, shadow, and surface.

Early series such as In Praise of Shadows were a search for light and shadow in the transitional spaces of places where art is displayed or made. His fascination with corridors, stairs, and thresholds began at Art College in the 70s, when he realised that buildings could be conceived like a poem or a piece of music, and that these liminal spaces were where their stories could be told.

Following a heart attack, and the resulting In The Broken Places series, Phil's work shifted from seeking light and shadow in architectural spaces to a studio-based practice of making. He now constructs delicate, ephemeral scenes on a tiny tabletop stage using detritus, paper fragments, and found objects. Existing solely to be transformed by light and coloured gels, these temporary assemblages are captured entirely in-camera, using the lens as a printmaker uses a press to fix the final image.

Recent projects, such as Hyalescence, Liminal Constructs, and Discarded Moments, continue to explore the beauty found in moments of transformation and fragility.

Phil is an elected Professional Member of both the Society of Scottish Artists (SSA) and Visual Arts Scotland (VAS). He is also a member of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and Glasgow Print Studio.

www.philipjlavery.com

EXHIBITIONS

2026
VAS Annual Exhibition, MacLaurin Gallery, Ayr. 
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Lillie Gallery, Milngavie, Glasgow.
SSA Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2025
Secret Coast Prize For Fine Art, Tighnabruaich Gallery, Tighnabruaich.
Irrwege, Ligne et Couleur, Stuttgart, Germany.
VAS Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2024
Street Level Photoworks Open, Glasgow
VAS Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2023
SSA Exhibition, The Maclaurin Art Gallery, Ayr.
SSA Exhibition, Caledonian Club, London

2022
Street Level Photoworks Open, Glasgow

2020/21
Flow, VAS Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh

2019
Solo Exhibition : Exploring the Liminal, The Barony Arts Centre, West Kilbride
Land Marks, Transient Collective, Patriothall Gallery, Edinburgh
30th Anniversary Open, Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow
Alight, VAS Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Open, Meffan Gallery, Forfar

2018
Solo Exhibition: Exploring the Liminal, Patriothall Gallery, Edinburgh
Current, Tatha Gallery, Newport-on-Tay
Abstracts, The Close Gallery, Edinburgh
Borders, Bridewell Theatre Gallery, London
SSA 121st Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Shutter Hub Open, Old Truman Brewery, London & 5&33 Gallery, Amsterdam
SSA & VAS Open, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Royal Photographic Society Scottish Travelling Exhibition

2017
Art Gemini Prize Finalist Exhibition, Asia House, London
Connection, &Gallery, Edinburgh
The Close Gallery, Edinburgh
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Glasgow
Shutter Hub Open, Retina Festival, Edinburgh
Royal Photographic Society Scottish Travelling Exhibition

2016
Royal Scottish Academy Open Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Art Gemini Prize Finalist Exhibition, Asia House, London
Der Greif “A Process 2”, Krakow Fotofest Festival, Krakow
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Glasgow
Bright, Leeds
Shutter Hub Cambridge Open, Cambridge
Royal Photographic Society DIG Travelling Exhibition
Royal Photographic Society Scottish Travelling Exhibition
Selected Digital Art Installations & Events

2011
On Wrecker’s Ball / All Wrapped Up. (Invited Artist), Drawing on Riverside, Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow

2007
Maxwell’s Equations (with PJ Moore), Edinburgh Science Festival, Edinburgh
Made of Light, Radiance Festival, Glasgow. Previously exhibited at RIBA, London (2004), SIA, Berne (2005) and Earls Court, London (2006).
3D VJ Designers Block Festival, London

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