Nicola Muirhead is a documentary photographer and visual storyteller from the island of Bermuda, focusing on long-form projects and portraiture.
Nicola’s practice is rooted in exploring the lived stories of individuals and communities as they exist in a time and place - often encapsulated in the layers of the past - investigating how we as people construct our own narrative from collective memory and historic events. Each body of work is undertaken with its own unique approach, incorporating a range of visual tools to convey the complexities of the human experience and the imprint of our stories on the world stage through photography. Her projects are research-led and collaborative in approach when working with people, drawing from experts and testimonials of a community to narrate their story and their truth.
With a Bachelors in International Relations and a Minor in Conflict Resolution, Nicola finished her Masters in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism at the University of Arts London in January 2017 and is mostly based between London and Bermuda. Nicola splits her time freelancing as a photographer for editorial, portrait and reportage assignments - as well as a visiting lecturer and teacher of photography. She is passionate about the discussion and analysis of photography and visual storytelling, running workshops in photography and working within Higher Education as a visiting lecturer for universities across the United Kingdom. She earned her PGcert in Higher Education from the University for the Creative Arts in 2018, with a focus on photography.
Nicola is a proud member of Women Photograph and is currently operating out of Three Act Studio in Hamilton, Bermuda.
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Clients | Press
TIME / The New York Times / The Atlantic / The Washington Post / The BBC / The Smithsonian Magazine / The Newstatesman / The Telegraph Magazine / The Guardian / National Geographic / Bloomberg / The British Journal of Photography / Diversions M&C SAATCHI Little Stories / Creative Review / The Ground Truth Project / Lensculture / HUCK Magazine / The Establishment / Dazed / Esquire Russia / Then There Was Us / Beware Magazine / Fisheye Le Mag / HANT Magazine / BLOW Magazine / Loupe Magazine / Aint-Bad Magazine / TRIP Magazine / Aesthetica Magazine / PDNedu / Feature Shoot / FotoRoom / Spindle Magazine / Men's Journal / Reuters / CBS News / NBC News / Irish Times / Red Bull Polska / Newsweek
Selected Awards & Grants
2023 - The New York Times Portfolio Review, Selected
2020 - AI-AP Annual American Photography, Winner
2019 - PHMuseum Women Photographers Grant, Shortlist
2019 - International Photogravphy Grant, Nominee
2019 - Royal Photographic Society IPE 162, Shortlist
2019 - Bermuda Cultural Legacy Fund - The Department of Community & Cultural Affairs Bermuda - Personal Grant Awardee
2018 - Royal Photographic Society Hundred Heroines, Nominated
2018 - Photo East Biennial Festival, Winner
2017 - Creative Review Photography Annual: Editorial, Winner
2017 - International Photogravphy Grant, Nominee
2017 - International Photography Awards Book (Self Published), Honorable Mention
2017 - The Biennial Grant, Shortlist
2017 - The 10th Juliet Margaret Cameron Award, Winner
2017 - Magenta Foundation Flash Forward Award, Winner
2017 - Belfast Photo Festival, Shortlist
2017 - PDNedu Student Contest, Honorable Mention
2017 - Life Framer Monthly Competition, Winner
2016 - Best of Bermuda Awards: Best Visual Artist of 2016, Winner
2015 - The Bermuda Arts Council Individual Grant - WE ARE NOW, Winner
Selected Group Exhibitions & Festivals
2023 - Eyes On Main Street 9th Edition: Outdoor International Photofestival - NC, USA
2022 - The Royal Photographic Society - SELFIES: Women in Photography
2022 - Impressions Gallery - This Separated Isle Exhibition - Bradford, UK
2022 - Eyes On Main Street 8th Edition: Outdoor International Photofestival - NC, USA
2022 - Street Level Photoworks - This Separated Isle Exhibition - Glasgow, UK
2022 - Ffotogallery -This Separated Isle Exhibition - Wales, Cardiff, UK
2021 - The EYE International Photography Festival, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, UK
2021 - F2 Foto Festival - The Journal Collective - Dortmund, Germany
2020 - Athens Photo Festival - Athens, Greece
2019 - Photo Vogue Festival - Milan, Italy
2019 - The Royal Photographic Society - Portrait Salon '19 - Bristol, UK
2019 - Photo North Festival - Portrait Salon '19 - Harrogate, UK
2019 - FORMAT 19 International Photography Festival: Radical Visions - Derby, UK
2019 - Miami Photo Fest: Women Photograph - Miami Design District, USA
2018 - Invisible Britain: Portraits of Hope and Resilience - Book Launch and Tour, UK
2018 - PhotoEast Biennial Festival - "On the Fence", Neptune Quay, Waterfront, Ipswich
2018 - The Copy Collection - Shoreditch, London, UK
2017 - Creative Review Photography Annual Launch - The Siding, London Bridge, UK
2017 - Portrait Salon '17 - London Fields & Ravensbourne University, London, UK
2017 - Flash Forward/Flash Back: Book Launch - Ryerson Image Center, Toronto, Canada
2016 - Invisible Edge - The Ugly Duck, London, UK
2014/2013 - Alexia Foundation: Eyes on the World - Bermuda National Gallery, Bermuda
Private Collections:
'Unseen' - acquired as part of Archive 192 - collecting works & historical materials for educational purposes related to women creating abstract and surrealist-based photography.
Monographs:
2021 - Unseen (1st edition) - Another Place Press
"A double page spread of photographs look as though they are on fire. In the left of the two, a man stands framed in a domestic doorway, apparently absorbed in reading something. A chair, towel and bath are visible behind while swirling around him are swathes of orange, gold and vivid green. The light and the colour obliterate the darkened walls of his home, on the edge of engulfing him. In the right-hand photograph, the same fiery light dominates, rapidly surrounding an hourglass with falling sand centred in the image’s frame.
These urgent and extraordinary works are just two from a book of thirty-five chemically altered Polaroids made by London-based photographer Nicola Muirhead which have gathered much-deserved acclaim in recent months. Titled Unseen, the publication offers up globally resonant but intensely personal experiences of the pandemic through raw, emotional photographs that span portraiture, still life, landscape and depictions of her home."
- Unseen by Nicola Muirhead was published by Another Place Press (June 2021) and reviewed for Photomonitor by Anneka French
Selected Photographic Books:
Open your eyes to a new world view with 100 photographs from women and nonbinary visual storytellers.
85% of the world’s photojournalists are men. That means that an overwhelming percentage of our visual historical record has been seen through men’s eyes. To counter this serious ethical problem, Women Photograph flips that bias on its head to show what and how women and nonbinary photojournalists see.
From documenting major events such as 9/11 to capturing serially misrepresented communities, this book presents a revisionist contemporary history: pore over 50 years of history in 100 photographs. Each image is accompanied by 200 words from the photographer about the experience and the subject, offering fresh insights and a much-needed perspective.
Until we have balanced, representative reporting, the camera cannot offer a mirror to our global society. To get the full picture, we need a diverse set of people behind the lens. This book offers a first step.
Relearn how to see with this evergreen catalogue that elevates the voices of women and nonbinary visual storytellers.
2021 - This Separated Isle - Velvet Joy Productions & Policy Press, Bristol UK:
This Separated Isle explores how concepts of ‘Britishness’ reveal an inclusive range of opinions and understandings about our national character. Featuring a diverse range of fascinating photographic portraits of people from across the UK and their accompanying narrative stories, this landmark book examines the relationship between identity and nationhood, revealing not only what divides us, but also the ties that bind us together as a nation.
2020 - Women Photograph 2020 Annual - Women Photograph:
The limited first edition of the 2020 Women Photograph Annual, the third issue in a series from Women Photograph’s members featuring 100 photographers’ work from 2020.
2019 - Portrait of Humanity - Hoxton Minipress, London UK | In collaboration with 1854 Media and Magnum Photos:
What does it mean to be human today? These 200 portraits taken by photographers in over 65 countries celebrate global citizenship at a time of instability. Funny, revealing, and often moving, the faces and stories in this book show that we are all wonderfully unique, yet on some level, deeply the same.
2018 - Women Photograph 2018 Annual - Women Photograph:
The limited first edition of the 2018 Women Photograph Annual, the first issue in a series from Women Photograph’s members featuring 100 photographers’ work from 2018.
2018 - Invisible Britain: Portraits of Hope and Resilience - Policy Press, Bristol UK:
Invisible Britain: Portraits of Hope and Resilience reveals untold stories from people who have been left out of the media narrative and left behind by government policy. Featuring the work of accomplished documentary photographers, the book presents people speaking in their own words to create a narrative showing how an unprecedented world of austerity, de-industrialisation and social upheaval is affecting us all.
2017 - Flash Forward 2017 | The Magenta Foundation, Toronto, Canada:
“Show me the story you love that nobody else is interested in, the one that you continue to shoot nevertheless. The story you have to shoot. That’s the one I’m interested in.” —DAN GABA
The Magenta Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of year thirteen of Flash Forward, its Emerging Photographers.
Interviews
2021 - BBC Radio Wales Art Show | Interview on EYE International Photography Festival in Aberystwyth
2018 - Beware Magazine | Interview : Nicola Muirhead raconte la gentrification londonienne et ceux qui la subissent
2018 - Loupe Magazine | Issue 5 Interview: Nicola Muirhead
2017 - Mull It Over | Interview: Nicola Muirhead
2017 - Aesthetica Magazine | Next Generation 2017: Social Arenas
2017 - Fotoroom | In Brutal Presence: Nicola Muirhead Portrays the Council Tenants of London’s Trellick Tower
2017 - Fisheye Magazine | Towering tales of unity : Tackling London's issue of gentrification
Visting Lectures
London College of Communication - University of Arts London, UK
The University of Hertfordshire, School of Creative Arts - Hertfordshire, UK
Ravensbourne University - North Greenwich, UK
City University of London: MA International Journalism - London, UK
Selected Artist Talks & Workshops
2024 - Workshop Leader, Behind the Palette - Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, Bermuda
2022 - Invited Speaker, The Royal Oak Foundation, Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, Bermuda
2021 - Workshop Leader, Battersea Photowalk w/ Photofusion & Art on the Underground, London, UK
2022 - Guest Speaker, Chalfonts & Gerrards Cross Camera Club, Buckinghamshire, UK
2021 - Guest Speaker, The EYE International Photography Festival, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, UK
2019 - Guest Speaker, FORMAT 19 Conference - Derby University, UK
2019 - Invited Speaker, The British Library, Knowledge Centre - Euston Road, London, UK
2018 - Workshop Leader, Wornington Word Project w/ Renegade Theatre - N. Kensington, UK
2018 - Workshop Leader, SPID Theatre Company - Kensal house, North Kensington, London, UK
2018 - Invited Speaker, PhotoForum - The Print Space, London, UK
2015 - Workshop Leader, Mindframe Photovoice - Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, Bermuda
2014 - Guest Speaker, BNG Curriculum "Eyes on the World" - Bermuda National Gallery, Bermuda
All images copyright © Nicola Muirhead.
All rights reserved. No use without permission.