Beyond Home - Film Screening and In-gallery Talk with Ron O'Donnell

Ron O'Donnell is a photographic artist renowned for his dazzling constructed and narrative photographs, his images are vibrant, daring and humorous and have touched upon allegory, myth, identity, mortality, and politics.

Stirling Photography Festival in partnership with Street Level Photoworks of Glasgow are delighted to present Ron, at the Tolbooth Gallery, in his first ever exhibition in his home town.

Join Ron for an in-gallery talk and special screening of a film made by Michael Prince, telling a personal and intimate story of Ron and his creative practice.

Beyond Home is uniquely curated exhibition which traces Ron's creative journey throughout his career as a photographer and visual artist.

The exhibition included street photographs of Edinburgh taken during the 1970s, the collection then moves toward more constructed imagery, culminating in digitally composed works that reflect a shift in both technique and vision over the decades.

"Together, the work traces an evolving dialogue, and my own changing approach to the art of photography."

About Ron

Ron was born in Stirling and grew up in the Raploch, spending childhood days playing around the castle rock and making regular visits to the Smith Institute. Ron went on to take up photography as a career, working at Stirling University as staff photographer. Moving to Edinburgh Ron studied photography at Napier, where 50 years later he is now a senior lecturer.

Ron is a visual artist whose work embraces photography, constructed imagery, and digitally composed pieces. His work has been exhibited widely including at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh; Centro de la Imagen, Mexico City; Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Montreal; California State University, Los Angeles; Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem; Walker Arts Centre, Minneapolis. O’Donnell’s work is held in private and public collections including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Musée National d’Art Moderne Centre Pompidou, Paris and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow. Ron has been the recipient of various awards including a Leverhulme Trust research project grant, Creative Scotland Travel grant, and the Fox Talbot Award for photography.

http://ronodonnell.com

Photo Credit: Michael Prince

About Michael

Michael Prince is a freelance television producer, director, and photographer based in rural Stirlingshire. With over 30 years in photography and television, Michael has worked with major UK broadcasters, including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5.

https://www.michaelprincephotography.co.uk

https://www.firstlightmedia.co.uk

Our Hosts

The Stirling Photography Festival is delighted to be hosted once again in the Tolbooth Gallery.

Parking is available in the Old Town Jail car park opposite the Tolbooth, for those attending the event. Spaces are limited and on a first come first serve basis. There is on street parking, for which there will be a charge.

Visit here for more details about the Tolbooth and its full programme of events.

About the Stirling Photography Festival

The Stirling Photography Festival is Scotland's only festival dedicated to the art of photography. Events and exhibitions run throughout August and September at venues across Stirlingshire - please see here for our full programme of events and exhibitions for 2025.

As a volunteer led community festival we aim to inspire creativity, develop skills and build community. All events are free to attend and so we rely on donations and sponsorship. Please see here how you can support the festival.