Contemporary Masters: Portraits of U.K. Artists by Alun Callender

Step behind the scenes of the UK’s creative spirit in this intimate photographic series by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Alun Callender. Known for his rich, moody visual style and evocative portraiture, Callender captures a rare glimpse into the private studios of artists working in and around London.

These portraits are not simply documentation; they are composed with the grandeur and reverence of a Gainsborough painting. Each artist is framed within their creative environment, surrounded by tools, textures, and mementos that reflect their individual practice and inner world. The result is a series of images that honour the artist as both subject and storyteller, contemporary figures rendered with timeless dignity.

Callender’s careful eye and collaborative process elevate each portrait into something greater than a moment; it becomes a visual narrative. Working closely with his subjects, he draws out their essence and craft, creating images that are introspective, quietly powerful, and filled with subtle clues to their process and inspiration.

As we navigate a world increasingly defined by pace, scale, and spectacle, these portraits offer an antidote: a slow look at how creatives live and work, often outside the structures and rhythms of city life. Visitors are invited to look closely, to explore the textures of each space, and to feel the presence of each maker.

Alun Callender is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker specialising in creating portraits and content of people in the creative industries. With strong technical knowledge and a deep passion for his craft, he works in close collaboration with his subjects to deliver definitive and timeless images.