John Rigby
Born in Maryport, West Cumbria. Studied Graphic Design and worked for about 20 years in Graphics and Advertising studios, in London, Edinburgh and Barcelona. Employed, at various times as an Art Director, Graphic Designer and Finished Artist. Strengths lay in calligraphic and typographic skills.
Returning from Spain in 1983 he began to photograph West Cumbria, which was then entering a post-industrialised era. Traditional industry; coal mining, fishing, shipbuilding and steel production then all but gone.
Much photography centred on the then disused and derelict dockland area in Maryport whilst pursuing other themed projects throughout West Cumbria including, travellers, carnivals, Haig Colliery (West Cumbria’s last coal mine), Workington Docks etc.
He taught graphic design and photography at West Cumbria College (FE), Workington. He organised and conducted several community photographic workshops in Cumbria and the Northern Region. Photographed Youth culture in West Cumbria (during 1980s). Young people participated by writing about themselves or by contributing poetry.
Participated in International Documentary workshops in Czech Republic. Work held in Side Gallery Archive.
Over the past decade, John has been exhibiting, attending workshops and photographing in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
Workington and Maryport
from: Photography
Two West Cumbrian towns photographed in the mid-1980s, particularly looking at the docks and summer carnivals.
Images of Youth in Cumbria
from: Photography
Participative constructed portraits of young people, early 1990s, commissioned by Side Gallery from the West Cumbrian photographer.