After a short career lecturing in further education, Colin Wilkinson left in 1973 to create a pioneering media project in Liverpool. Based on the Canadian Challenge for Change programme, Merseyside Visual Communications Unit gave community groups access to training and resources in film, video and photography.
In 1977, Open Eye Gallery emerged as the public face of the organisation, exhibiting masters of photography such as Lewis Hine, August Sander, Edward Weston and Imogen Cunningham alongside emerging talents including Tom Wood, Brian Griffiths and Bruce Gilden.
In 1982, Colin left to create photographic company Light Impressions and started publishing books, postcards and posters. This evolved into Bluecoat Press in 1992, which gained a national reputation for its books specialising in British documentary photography and photojournalism.
Photographers published include John Bulmer, Tish Murtha, Nick Hedges, Chris Steel-Perkins and Jim Mortram.
In 2022 Colin sold Bluecoat Press to 1854 Media (publishers of the British Journal of Photography) but has since re-entered publishing with his new imprint Image and Reality.
TALK PHOTO is a fortnightly evening social event in Oriel Colwyn’s gallery space, where invited speakers are here IN PERSON to share presentations and insights about their work or projects, with a friendly intimate audience.
Talks start at 7pm (doors open 6.30pm) with tickets issued on a first come, first served basis.
If you are in a position to contribute towards the talks then please choose a donation option – this will directly help Oriel Colwyn and the continuation of these events going forward.
If you would prefer not to donate, please choose the FREE Ticket option.
Due to space limitations, we will be capping the audience to 30 people and are happy to offer a FREE option to remove any financial barriers to attend.