I really dislike writing third-person artist statements, you’ve come to the wrong place if you’re looking for an elegantly written artistic statement. However, stick around if you want to read more about me and my practice in a human informal manner.

As of right now I am a Manchester based artist with a background in photography. My artistic practice is deeply personal, exploring the chaos of my twenties and the mess of my personal life, and learning how to become comfortable with expressing myself- heavily inspired by the rawness of Richard Billingham’s Ray's a Laugh.

My relationship with photography started from a young age where I would sit and take apart my grandma’s 35mm film camera. This sense of exploration never went away. I believe this is why my practice utilises a lot of analogue media, whether I’m shooting 35mm film, 6x7 or 645 medium format film, or experimenting with printmaking in the darkroom.

In my teens I saved up and bought my first DSLR, a Nikon D5600. This landed me a spot in Dudley College with the best tutor I’ve ever had and my hero Phil Brooks. He pushed me to exhibit locally, sent me to work and live in Berlin, and fought for me to go to university. I started studying for my degree at Staffordshire University, leaving at the start of my second year to overcome mental health and addiction issues. After a couple of years away from photography and studying, I re-applied to study at Manchester School of Art, where I found my new home.

Outside of my personal practice I’m the creative director for Manchester ‘Hardcore rhythm & blues’ band Roko Mouth, photographing their live shows, shooting press images and helping direct their music videos. I also run my own ongoing publication ‘Toileture’ where I’m working towards giving local artists and like-minded creatives a platform to share their voices. As I move into my third year of university, I want to explore how I can merge the mess and chaos of my personal life with the juxtaposing subliminal landscape that always draws me back in.

"wherescalgone"

Callum Fletcher Manchester-based artistMAKING STUFF WITH ANALOGUE MEDIA

Callum Fletcher
Manchester-based artist
MAKING STUFF WITH ANALOGUE MEDIA