Introduction

Sam Ivin is a photographic artist who explores social issues and the people connected with them. By documenting their stories and perspectives he hopes to provide a more personal, tangible understanding of them. Ivin’s process often involves hosting photography workshops, where he creates collaborative artwork with project participants.

He has been awarded numerous significant photography prizes including the Magnum Photos Graduate Photographers Award, May 2017, The GMC First Prize, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, March 2017, the Best Graduate Single Image, Runner Up, British Journal of Photography (BJP) Breakthrough Award 2016 and the Winner of Best Single Image, Human Category at Renaissance Photography Prize 2015.

Bio

I am a photographer specialising in collaborative projects that aim to assist people’s wellbeing, create change and share stories. I am interested in working with vulnerable people, and making positive contributions to communities. I have over 10 years’ experience organising projects from their initial research to the final outcome. My main strengths are my social skills, my ability to adapt to people, put them at ease and develop relationships. I am a determined, driven and considerate person.

Photography Commissions & Projects

Buckinghamshire Health, Buckinghamshire Libraries,Carers Bucks, Aylesbury, March to April 2025
- Photography workshops, in-person + online, co-created new Buckinghamshire Library Card with young carers.

Lightpainting Commission, Meath Green Primary School, Horley, Feb to March 2025

Created collaborative, colourful permanent artwork with students, inspired by the schools values.

BEEE Creative, Perform Transform, Museum at One Garden City, Letchworth, June 2023 to March 2024

Facilitated sessions with dance artist Kasia Trufitt at community cafe, dementia club and families.
During 2 week residency created collaborative artwork with families capturing their thoughts about Letchworth.

Solihull New Communities Participatory Story Collector, Solihull Council, May 2023 to Feb 2024

Collected 12 stories of human migration to the Solihull area through community engagement.
Created a series of decorated family portraits, all stories will be donated to local archive.

Punjab to the Potteries, Appetite, Newcastle-under-Lyme, May to August 2023

Portraits of Punjabi community in Stoke-on-Trent, whose experiences were made into two, 30 minute plays.

Socially Engaged Photographer, West Cheshire Council & Open Eye Gallery, Chester, Oct 2022 to Dec 2023

Capturing underrepresented people, unpaid + young carers, experiences of the pandemic. Facilitated workshops & created colourful manipulated portraits , featured at local venues, Open Eye Gallery & council project website.

Arts Practitioner, ICE Heritage, Hampshire Cultural Trust, Aldershot Military Museum, Oct 2022 to Feb 2023

Delivering a series of art sessions for young women with mental health needs.

Early Years Artist Commission, Seaside Photographed, John Hansard Gallery, Oct 2020 to June 2021

Worked with 8 local early years children to create Weston Shore, a collaborative body of work on photographing the Seaside. Photography, land art & visual art delivered remotely and in person during lockdown restrictions,
Produced an exhibition of children’s images & short film - coinciding with touring Seaside Photographed exhibition.

BEEE Creative, Exhibit 2020 Programme, July 2020 & Dancing with Light, May to March 2022

Facilitated online sessions,& resources for adults + families, then created light painting images for displa at the museum.

Child-led Pioneering Places with Turner Contemporary, Royal Harbour School,Sep 2019 to June 2021

Selected from 200 applicants to lead creative photography workshops for year 7’s in Ramsgate.

Mosaic Clubhouse, part of All Change photography project collective, 2018 to 2019

13 photographers documented locations at end of Londons' tube lines, aimed to explore underreported stories.
I regularly visited Mosaic Clubhouse to meet members and organically create collaborative portraits.

Settling; Exploring Human Migration to Stoke-on-Trent, Potteries Museum & Keele Uni, May 2017 to Jun 21

Began as a 4 month residency in summer 2017, received Arts Council England Grant to expand the work in 2018. In collaboration with GRAIN Projects CIC, Appetite, Stoke-on-Trent City Council & Arts Council England.
Through 20 workshops and various meet ups I engaged with 83 individuals over two years.
Exhibition at Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, 2,840 visitors, featured on BBC News, over 900,000 views.
Donated 40 stories to Stoke City Archives. Website with over 1,000 visitors each year. Workshops, exhibitions tours and talks at local schools. Exhibition at Keele University produced participant video interviews in 2021.

Lingering Ghosts, residency at Communication Research Centre Fabrica, Treviso, Italy, 2015-2016

Began project at University and self-expanded the work post graduation, leading to the Fabrica residency.
Engaged with a range of refugee charities and organisations across the UK to gain access to subjects.
Production & design of award winning Lingering Ghosts photobook and internationally exhibited portrait series.

Awards Exhibitions & Features

Selected Awards

One of ten winners of Magnum Photos Graduate Photographers Award, May 2017
The GMC First Prize, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, March 2017
Winner of Best Single Image, Human Category at Renaissance Photography Prize, 2015
Winner of Ideas Tap & Magnum’s 30 Under 30 Competition, 2015

Selected Features

All Change Featured on It’s Nice That & British Journal of Photography
Speaker at GRAIN The State of Photography Symposium III 2019, Birmingham City University, October 2019
Feature on WIRED.COM February 2017
Cover image & feature in British Journal of Photography migration issue, September 2016

Selected Exhibitions

Lingering Ghosts at Officine Fotografiche Roma as part of Festival della Diplomazia, November 2019
Settling; Exploring Human Migration in Stoke-on-Trent, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, May-Sep 2019
Solo exhibition of original Lingering Ghosts series at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, June-August 2018

Videos

Weston Shore Commission with John Hansard Gallery, 2021

Settling shown at Keele University, 2021

Workshop, Teaching & Other Experience

Photography sessions for asylum seekers at Dunchurch Hotel, with Benn Partnership, Jan to March 2025

- Facilitated 6 sessions with mostly young people & families, to be displayed at Rugby Art Gallery & Museum.

Photography Club, Chalrwood Primary School, Horley, November 2024 to Present

Weekly photography club with primary school children exploring photography and art.

Photo & Art Activities, Young Gallery/Sarum Academy, Wiltshire FUEL Programme, August 2023 to Present

Holiday provision, photo courses for children + youth, feedback included, “One of the best weeks of my life!”.

Vantage Education, After School Clubs Sep 2024 -2025

Delivering Art, Craft, Photography and STEM topics to primary and secondary schools

BEEE Creative LEAP, Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire, March 2022 to July 2024

Facilitating Dancing With Light sessions at primary schools with dance artists, inspired by Exhibit 2020 work.

Anstee Bridge, Kingston & Twickenham March 2024 to July 2024

Facilitating creative photography workshops and 1-to-1 sessions for vulnerable young people ages 13 to 16.

Appetite Lunch Club, Newcastle-under-Lyme, November to December 2023

Three creative photo-based sessions for recent migrants to the area.

Equal Arts, Parkfield House Nursing Home, Uxbridge, October 2022 to November 2022

Creating art sessions for residents at Nursing Home including Land Art, light painting, portraiture and others.

Create Arts, Freelance Workshop Artist, Feb2023 to Present

Worked with Young Carers in South Ruislip, Adult Cares in Tower Hamlets and over 60’s group in Havering.

Team Supervisor Queen Elizabeth Foundation, Leatherhead, March 2022 to April 2023

Managing carers, writing care plans and assisting clients with daily tasks. Was Support Worker, Feb21-March22.

GRAIN Projects & Coventry Refugee & Migrant Centre, February 2021

Facilitating online photography sessions, with the goal for learners to exhibit their images publicly in Coventry.

Photography tutor at Ascend, Remote and South Oxhey, May 2019 to 2021

Designed and delivered several 16 hour beginner and intermediate photography courses, targeted at adults.
As a result learners have set up a weekly Self Organised Photography Group - it’s still going today!

Photography Workshop Facilitator for Arts on Prescription, 1Life, St Albans Arts Team, July to Sep 2019

Developing a series workshops to women with mental health conditions. Final images displayed in local park.