I took on the role of Chair in January 2024, because I was genuinely excited about the future of Studies in Photography, and the huge progress made by my predecessor, Alex Hamilton.  I am passionate about photography, both old and contemporary and am very keen to explore ways to help as many people as possible engage with and enjoy this unique art form.

 I have worked in the cultural heritage sector for over thirty years. I am currently Director of the Scottish Council on Archives and past roles include Director of Communications with the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, Director of the Built Environment Forum Scotland, and Director of the Scottish Civic Trust. From 2005 to 2010, I ran my own specialist heritage and culture communications consultancy, John Pelan Associates.

Alexander became Treasurer in January 2024, stepping down from position of Chair so as to focus on Studies’ publishing arm and the new premises at 6 William Street in Edinburgh’s West End.

My election in 2016 fulfilled a long-held ambition to promote a deeper understanding of contemporary and historic photography – an artform which holds a unique position in Scotland, the birthplace of many great photographers, including Hill & Adamson, John Thomson and James Craig Annan.

The role is a voluntary one, like all the committee members and the tasks covered by the Studies in Photography means that I can be involved in all aspects of the organisation from the journals to the books.

As Chair I was involved in the redesign of the journal Studies in Photography as we sought to offer a balance of historic and contemporary articles. Highlights of my past six years include an exhibition of school’s photography at the Scottish Parliament, alongside the delivery of free copies of our journal to every secondary art department in Scotland; and the promotion of prints by eminent photographers, to raise funds for mental health charities. The launch of our new Journal Leaves guided by an ex committee member Sara Stevenson. As we enter our fortieth anniversary year, we are expanding our publishing programme, we have joined Publishing Scotland and have partnered with Edinburgh University Press to present our Thematic and Scottish Photographic Artists Book Series, for which I am Series Editor.

I look forward to welcoming you to the organisation, either as an individual member or an academic Institution.

Robin Gillanders is former Reader in Photography at Edinburgh Napier University and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship in 2014. He is a practising photographic artist and has exhibited frequently and internationally. In the 1990’s he made several collaborative works with the artist/poet Ian Hamilton Finlay, culminating in his exhibition and book ‘Little Sparta: Portrait of a Garden’ (1998). More recent solo publications includeThe Photographic Portrait(2004),The Philosopher’s Garden(2004), Highland Journey: In the Spirit of Edwin Muir(2009). and A Lovers Complaint with Henry Gough-Cooper (2016).

He has works in the collections of National Galleries of Scotland, City Art Centre, Edinburgh, and the National Portrait Gallery and V&A in London. He had a major retrospective at Stills Gallery Edinburgh in 2017. He has been a committee member of SSHoP/Studies in Photography for at least twenty-five years and is a passionate proponent of Scottish photography, both historical and contemporary.

The role is a voluntary one, like all the committee members and the tasks covered by the Studies in Photography means that I can be involved in all aspects of the organisation from the journals to the books.

Scotland is my adopted home - I share my life between Edinburgh and Washington DC. I fell in love with Scotland for its art, architecture, people and extraordinary landscape when working there many years ago in my profession as a publisher.

My connection with Studies in Photography goes like this: 
It was 2019 and I attended the Annual Lecture of the Scottish Society for the History of Photography (that binds the Studies in Photography programs) at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh, given by the renowned Scottish photographer, Robin Gillanders. It was an inspirational lecture on Chick Chalmers, the photographer featured in the then current issue of the Society’s journal, Studies in Photography, of which Robin is an Editor.

At the lovely cocktail party following the lecture, I thanked Robin for his wonderful presentation, and as a freshly retired publisher, I offered my volunteer services to the Journal. Robin pointed to Alex Hamilton (the then and current Chair of the governing Committee and Co-Editor of the Journal) and said, “Talk to that man.”  Thus began my rewarding association with this extraordinarily talented assembly of artists and the exquisite and accessible publications and programs they produce.

I have been delighted to indulge my passion for the visual arts by working with these renowned artists and other fellow volunteer member aficionados in helping to shine the journals and books in brighter, broader light to more people in more places on behalf of Scottish photography. The Journal is freely available to members digitally and in print, and the books are available to them at a deep discount.

Sheila Masson is a photographer and independent photo historian who has worked within photography for 30 years in both the USA and the UK. Sheila worked as a picture researcher/editor for Corbis and Getty Images in New York City, and as a photo assistant, picture editor and photojournalist in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Now living in her ancestral home of Edinburgh, she most recently worked as the photographic preservation manager of the National Collection of Aerial Photography, part of Historic Environment Scotland. Sheila’s photographs have been published in numerous books, newspapers and magazines, including America 24-7, Life: The Year in Pictures, Vanity Fair, The Times, The Guardian and The Independent. Alongside her own photography, Sheila also specialises in the research of 19th century British tintypes and 19th century British itinerant photographers. Sheila received an MLitt in History of Photography from the University of St Andrews in 2013.

Stephen Kirkpatrick has been working in the design industry over the last 30 years, establishing two design consultancies and now runs and manages Artibrand Ltd.

Graduating from ECA (Edinburgh College of Art) in the late 1980’s with an honours degree in Graphic Design and Photography, Steve has always been interested in photography, from fine art, documentation to commercial.

Steve joined Studies in Photography late 2019 drawn to the organisation by their pedigree in photography and art, enthusiasm and friendly manner. Steve works closely with several committee members on developing the company’s online image via website and social media.

I am an Edinburgh-based photographer with 35 years’ experience in Commercial and Fine Art practice. After graduating from Edinburgh College of Art in 1990 with a Master of Design in Photography, I began my career in press/editorial work (The Independent & The Scotsman Publications) and design agency commissions. More recently I've been working with Scottish Government child and health agencies and the NHS. I taught photography at ECA from 1992-2008. My LAND/SEA/SKY works have been exhibited and collected widely in UK/USA & European venues including the National Galleries of Scotland, the Photographers’ Gallery, London, the International Center of Photography, New York, the Museum of Fine Art, Houston, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. I've years of experience working on print sales and gallery representation with a number of high-profile galleries including the Photographers' Gallery in London and Julie Saul Gallery in New York and attended Fotofest twice in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

John worked for the BBC for 8 years as a stills photographer. After going freelance, his clients included Royal College of Midwives, Institute of the Motor Industry, Cambridge Book Publishers, The Observer newspaper, and Channel 4. He taught at the Leeds Art College for twelve years, and is a founding member of Airestreet Darkroom in Leeds. His work can be found in the National Portrait Gallery the V&A, Leeds City Council Museums and Galleries Collection, the Bishopsgate institute, Friends House and Cecil Sharp House.

John is a photographer, writer, researcher, educator, speaker, festival and conference organiser, and advocate for photography. Apart from publication of his own work, he has written numerous essays and articles on photography published in edited volumes, academic journals, and the press. He has taught and researched photography as a permanent and visiting lecturer, as well as artistic fellow, to several institutions in the UK and US. He regularly collaborates with universities both in the UK and abroad. Recently, he has been commissioned as one of three artists collaborating with researchers from universities in Poland, Croatia and Ireland on a project initiated by the University of Cork and funded by the Irish Research Council and EU on the theme of European borders.