Tom Wood is renowned for his talent as a photographer of people, especially working-class Liverpudlians, so it’s a rare treat to enjoy an exhibition of his lesser-known landscape works, selected from his archive and spanning over 40 years of his career, at Llandudno’s MOSTYN gallery.
Wood was born in the West of Ireland, and scenes from his childhood home are joined by images taken on Merseyside during the 25 years he lived there, and in North Wales, where he now calls home having moved to the Vale of Clwyd in 2003. He returns yearly to Ireland, drawn back by the area’s natural beauty and perhaps the pull of nostalgia, and photographs made there over decades show a great love for the area, as well as a great sense of humour (assuming you find pissing horses funny, but who doesn’t?). Many of his photographs are taken from a moving car, and transport of all kinds features often. Less ad hoc compositions have become more prevalent as technology has allowed Wood, utilising panoramic cameras, to create broad, sweeping landscapes of North Wales.
As well as showing his own photographs and video, he will be inviting visitors to become part of the Biscuit Tin Photo Archive – digging out the old photos from wherever they are gathering dust and shedding new light on rural life in Wales. Tom Wood – Landscapes will run from 18 January to 6 April.
Tom Wood
Mersey Family Vauxhall, 2002
Tom Wood
Back from Pontoon, (Cavecalf), 1975
Tom Wood
Father and Sunset, 2000
Tom Wood
Three Generations Frozen Lamb, 2011
Tom Wood
Loggerheads View, 2010
Biscuit Tin Photo Archive
Tom Wood
Walk to the Green Rooms, Kilshanig, 1987
Tom Wood
May Day Bush, 2005
Biscuit Tin Photo Archive
Tom Wood
Above Horseshoe Pass, 2008
Tom Wood
Bill’s Sweet William
All images courtesy the artist.
