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Danielle Macleod has been awarded the 2024 Harry Kerr Bursary. Danielle is a talented mask maker and photographer from the Isle of Lewis, whose work is deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of the Hebrides. Her photography, captured on medium format film, is known for its evocative portrayal of traditional Hebridean life, local legends, and the mystical connection between people and their landscapes.

Having spent several years in Glasgow, where she earned a BA Honours degree from the Glasgow School of Art’s Communication Design department, Danielle’s work has continually sought to reconnect her with her island home. Through her lens, the landscapes of Lewis are transformed into otherworldly realms, and its inhabitants become guardians of ancient myths and stories. Her past works, including her solo show Guardians at the Island Darkroom and two person show Na Boireannaich with Alice Macmillan, at An Lanntair, Stornoway, have been celebrated for their ability to evoke a deep sense of place and identity.

Danielle’s winning project for the Harry Kerr Bursary will delve into the traditional healing medicines and practices of the Highlands and Islands. She will create a series of portraits and landscapes, focusing on the plants and materials once used in ancient healing rituals.

This project promises to be a compelling exploration of folk medicine, and its enduring legacy in the Highlands and Islands, offering a new perspective on the deep interdependence between the land and its inhabitants. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Danielle Macleod on this well-deserved recognition, and we eagerly anticipate the powerful work she will create.

The Harry Kerr Bursary is an initiative of our partners in Ireland, Artlink, and has been made possible by generous donor contributions. Our goal is to raise €25,000 to fund five bursaries of €5,000 per year for the next five years, providing ongoing support to deserving artists. Together, we can honour Harry and continue his mission of fostering creativity, technical skill and artistic excellence in photography.

The first Harry Kerr Bursary has been selected by Artlink, Photo Museum Ireland, Thomas Joshua Cooper, and Street Level Photoworks.

To find out more information or to support the fundraising effort click here.

Harry Kerr (1960 - 2022) was born in the West of Scotland in 1960. He was educated at Glasgow School of Art, specialising in photography, in the first instance in the Design School (the only route to studying photography at that time). He gained an honours Degree in Graphic Design & Photography. But Harry’s interests were always in the area of photography as a fine art medium so it was a happy coincidence that, during his time in the Graphics Department, Thomas Joshua Cooper, an American photographer with a vision for an entirely new kind of photography course, arrived on the scene and became a significant mentor.

Shortly after graduating, he was selected as the first year-long artist-in-residence at Summerlee Heritage Trust, a large industrial museum in his home town of Coatbridge. He later became the Design & Interpretation Officer at the museum. Subsequently, Harry became the first recipient of Scotland’s much missed lens-based media prize the Richard Hough Bursary. This award was for a project called Sense & Science which was premiered at Street Level and was exhibited in several venues in Scotland and England at a time when the circulation of exhibitions across photography galleries was reiprocally undertaken.

From 1993 until 2000 he was a technical instructor in the Fine Art Photography Department at the prestigious Glasgow School of Art and an active Board member of Street Level Photoworks. Harry moved to Donegal with Martha over twenty years ago with the intention of establishing a commercial photography business, while continuing to pursue their own personal art/photography projects.

He was involved with Artlink, teaching photography workshops in the early 2000s and in more recent years designed the organisation's website, produced videos, supported artists in installing exhibitions, designed promotional material, and documented events, approaching this work with his particular flair and commitment to quality.