Scott Rawsthorne. 

I’m a photographer based in Newcastle, NSW. My work is driven by a fascination with people, place, light and the stories that exist beneath the surface of everyday life.

Originally from London, I spent much of my career working in film and advertising as a director. My advertising work was awarded at the highest level, including a Cannes Gold Lion, a Clio Award and Promax Awards. That background has shaped the way I approach photography, particularly my understanding of visual storytelling, composition, light and atmosphere.

Since moving to Newcastle, photography has become a way of connecting with my new surroundings and the people within them. Legends of the Seven Seas was an important part of that journey — a portrait project documenting the characters and community of a local Newcastle pub, which was subsequently published as a photobook.

My current work is moving increasingly towards fine-art and conceptual photography. I’m interested in creating images that sit somewhere between reality and imagination — photographs that are recognisable but leave questions unanswered. Light plays an important role in this, often becoming more than simply a way of illuminating the subject; it becomes part of the story.

My recent photography has been exhibited at Newcastle Art Space, PACC and the Creator Incubator. My film work has been screened at more than 30 international film festivals, receiving awards at the New York International Film Festival, Vancouver Film Festival and Cambridge International Film Festival. I’m continuing to develop my photographic practice through new bodies of work, exploring ideas around perception, mystery, human connection and the possibility of realities beyond what we can see.