The second annual PhotoDalkeith exhibition opens this weekend at Dalkeith Palace, celebrating Scottish photography through the work of 17 distinguished contemporary photographers. More than 170 pieces will line the palace walls, exploring this year's theme of "nature and nurture" through uniquely Scottish perspectives, with many photographers displaying never-before-seen work.
Running every weekend from Saturday through October 5th, the exhibition allows visitors to experience both the iconic palace and Scotland's most impressive contemporary photography. "PhotoDalkeith started last year with an examination of photographic processes, but this year we have assembled 17 of the best Scottish contemporary photographers and the idea really is that this is becoming an annual platform for the celebration of photography in Scotland," explained Charlotte Rostek, Dalkeith Palace Development lead.
The exhibition features a deliberate community-focused approach, inviting the Midlothian Camera Club to display 13 pieces in the entrance and cafe areas. This local element provides visitors with photography from around Midlothian, allowing the camera club to showcase their work alongside some of Scotland's most decorated photographers. The entrance through the cafe represents a change from usual palace exhibitions, creating a more accessible experience.
The exhibition flows from the Midlothian Camera Club's work to focus on Dalkeith Country Park through both historic and contemporary perspectives from the Buccleuch family. Walter Dalkeith, a keen photographer himself, has captured areas of the park he finds particularly interesting today. The curation team has placed historic black and white Buccleuch family photographs from the 1800s side by side with Walter's more recent photography, creating a unique comparison of the country park across centuries.
PhotoDrawing Scotland's most acclaimed photographers, the exhibition showcases works from Iain Stewart, Andy Wiener, David Williams, Alicia Bruce, and many others. The collection ranges from classic skilled photography to unusual pieces including clowns photographed in New York and family members projected onto trees. Two of the most distinctive works come from Ron O'Donnell and Calum Colvin, both pushing creative boundaries in their respective fields.
Ron O'Donnell, recipient of a Leverhulme Trust Research grant, presents his unique and creative depictions of historic paintings by digitally editing his own face onto figures in historic artwork. His photography adds creative twists and humor to popular paintings, often depicting scenes with messages such as "the blind leading the blind." Meanwhile, Calum Colvin, winner of one of the first Scottish Arts Council Creative Scotland Awards, displays constructed photography that creates paintings when viewed from specific angles, achieved by painting sections of images onto objects arranged in rooms.
For the first time, Dalkeith Palace has implemented films throughout the exhibition to help visitors understand the displayed work, providing insights into both the photographers and their creative processes. The exhibition follows a carefully curated clockwise route, with many prominent photographers having dedicated rooms. "The floors of the exhibition are clockwise around the ground floor and then for the first time, we are using the upstairs of the palace too, the big great gallery and the landing upstairs. It works really well together," Rostek noted.
Julie Lawson, PhotoDalkeith's curator, emphasized the historical significance: "Photography has been a practice as an art in Scotland since its invention in the nineteenth century. Scottish photographers have excelled, been internationally acclaimed and exerted significant influence. That this tradition continues to present day is demonstrated and celebrated in this exhibition of work by seventeen of Scotland's most distinguished practitioners."
The exhibition's central theme of "nature and nurture" resonates throughout much of the displayed work, with many photographs depicting families and places of significance. David Williams particularly captures heartwarming family-oriented scenes that embody this concept. The palace provides an ideal venue with its grand walls offering impressive backdrops for contemporary art, unlike traditional galleries with their uniform spaces.
"Unlike a gallery, the palace offers so many interesting and differently shaped sized rooms and I always say that the space itself dictates where the work will go," Charlotte explained. Six photographers have dedicated rooms, allowing their work to "pop out of the walls" and creating a beautiful twist on traditional gallery experiences. Calum Colvin's room in the front foyer features two televisions showing his photographic process, providing valuable context for understanding his deconstructed artwork.
Building on June's successful exhibition featuring items from the Scottish Furniture Makers Association, the palace has already begun planning PhotoDalkeith for the next three years. "Next year, the Royal Scottish Academy celebrates their 200th anniversary and that's going to be a nationwide celebration so we thought we would make PhotoDalkeith a platform to show RSA photographers and filmmakers," Rostek revealed. Plans include potentially moving the date forward to align with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.
The 2027 exhibition will focus on Poland, highlighting Midlothian's historically large Polish community, particularly through military connections. "The first division of the Polish army was quartered in Dalkeith Palace's attic where they left traces of graffiti," Rostek explained. This exhibition will allow locals and visitors to gain deeper insight into this unique historical connection.
The original PhotoDalkeith concept emerged from the Buccleuch family's desire to digitize their photo albums. They invited photographers, including Zelda Cheatle who curated last year's show, to demonstrate proper digitization techniques and equipment. Cheatle, simultaneously curating a Royal Photographic Society exhibition on neopictorialism, recognized the artistic value of the Buccleuch family photographs and their potential for public display.
With Edinburgh business Mimi's Bakehouse operating the cafe, the Midlothian Camera Club providing local photography, and over 200 photographs from talented artists, Charlotte and the palace team anticipate another successful PhotoDalkeith. The exhibition is free, though organizers recommend pre-booking to ensure entry.
