ESTHER MAY CAMPBELL

An award winning artist working with film and photography.

‘Campbell is exceptional, because in parallel with her community facing art, she creates outstanding photographic work of the calibre of Koudelka and Ellen Mark, while her film work ranges from BAFTA winning ‘September‘ to deeply private moving images.’ Daphne Astor, curator & publisher

KITCHEN TABLE PHOTO CLUB

A weekly arts club, KTPC emerges from the heart of Esther’s home, around a fire & kitchen table. Kids gather to look at books, fiddle with analogue cameras and exhibit work, while fostering friendship, connection and emotional resilience.

BEWILDERMENT CARDS

A deck of 49 black & white, photographic playing cards, 17 hand-drawn prompts + instructions and inspirations on how to use them.

‘Bit weird and bonkers.’ Nina (aged 8), aspiring fashion designer

4 of 49 pictures from Bewilderment Cards (2022), limited edition decks of cards

Over lockdowns, Esther and KTPC delivered art packages to kids at home; masks, costumes and crowns, made by local women (and embedded with special powers) as well as ½ frame cameras and hand-drawn prompts. Kids used these to make their own photographs which then became a magikal deck – the prophetic, beguiling Bewilderment Cards.

Available online, at The Martin Parr Foundation, Rough Trade, The Here Shop & across the country.

ANYTHING MOVING

A series of 3 films made by Esther and Kitchen Table Photo Club.

‘Anything Moving is so good, so un-bossy in its artistry, so moving as portraits of children (& therefore portraits of all of us) that really I can’t think of any other account of childhood that doesn’t feel patronising by comparison. What it offers is profound, abundant and not quite graspable. I love it’. Alice Oswald, poet & gardener

Due to COVID restrictions, Esther and KTPC moved out of the city to gather in local woodlands. They planted trail cameras at caves, rivers, rocks and awaited animal responses. They immersed themselves in leaf mould and tree tops, told stories of human & animal kinships. They recorded sounds and sung to the trees. Three experimental films emerged, exhibited solo, together, inside & out, rescored & reimagined.

NIGHT DEERS section from film 3, of 2 Anything Moving (2022)
BUZZARD section from film 3, of 2 Anything Moving (2022)

S T I L L S

Created from KTPC’s adventuring with myth and archetype, STILLS is a collection of fine art prints. These were exhibited in a solo show in Aldeburgh, Suffolk.

‘STILLS celebrates intimate moments of young people exploring the complexity of a forest landscape with wonder and curiosity. Campbell’s ability to capture feral lives is powerful as art, and iundoubtedly a powerful experience for thise involved’. Eileen Haring Woods, Gallery Director

Image from STILLS (2022), one of 13 pictures, a limited edition of 13 prints on 350gsm archival paper, first shown at Ballroom Arts, Aldebugh.

Kitchen Table Photo Club‘s work and play has led to multiple adventures in media – the cards, films and prints – ripe for exhibition & collaboration as Esther and the club continue to noodle in the woods, natter at the kitchen table and play like artists.

‘Campbell’s visual sense is so strong you long to see where she’s heading next.’ The Times.

Contact esther@esthermaycampbell.com