David Bennett is a British photographer, editor and educator whose practice explores the relationships between people, place and the landscape. Working across photography, moving-image, and participatory projects, he is interested in how images can reveal overlooked narratives, foster connection and encourage new ways of seeing. His work often begins with close observation of familiar environments, examining themes of memory, identity, belonging and the changing nature of public/private space. Through collaboration with communities, museums and cultural organisations, he has developed projects that invite participation and reflection on the social and emotional attributes of place.
Alongside his art practice, David Bennett has worked extensively within creative education for over eighteen years, teaching photography and visual arts across Further and Higher Education programmes. He is also the founder and editor of PpR Editions, an independent publishing platform focused on photography, artists’ books and visual culture. Established as an extension of his photographic and editorial practice, PpR Editions publishes and supports projects that explore personal, social and cultural relationships to place, memory and everyday experience. It’s publishing programme includes PpR Journal, an independent publication that brings together projects, writing and visual research from emerging and established practitioners.
His professional experience includes editorial commissions for ELLE (UK and USA), Tank Magazine, FT Magazine, Art Review, and other cultural and commercial clients including the BBC and Virgin Records. His series Brilliant Trees: A Survey of Council-Owned Street Trees Across the Becontree Estate was developed with residents of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and presented as an exhibition at Valence House Museum. The project explored the overlooked presence of urban street trees through photography, drawing and writing, encouraging local participants to reconsider their relationship with the landscape of Dagenham and the Becontree Estate.
He lives and works in London, UK.
Education
- 2009 Certificate in Education, University of East London
- 1997 BA (Hons) Photography, The Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Farnham
Solo Exhibitions
- 2026 Brilliant Trees: A Survey of Council-Owned Street Trees Across the Becontree Estate, Valence House Museum, Dagenham, UK
- 2001 New Work 2, Blue Room, London, UK
- 2000 New Work, Blue Room, London, UK
- 1998 Meet the Real People, The Cobden Club, London, UK
Group Exhibitions
- 2026 A Letter in Mind, Gallery Different, London, UK
- 2025 Existence, Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
- 2023 A Letter in Mind, Gallery Different, London, UK
- 2022 Ilford Limited: Analogue Stories (In partnership with National Portrait Gallery), Redbridge Museum, Redbridge Central Library, London, UK
- 2022 A Letter in Mind, Gallery Different, London, UK
- 2021 A Letter in Mind, Gallery Different, London, UK
- 2019 Transference, Halesworth Gallery, Suffolk, UK
- 2018 Conversation Pieces (Curated by Ruby Hoette and Caroline Stevenson), Tenderbooks, London, UK
- 2018 Stewarts Law RCA Secret, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- 2017 Stewarts Law RCA Secret, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- 2016 Stewarts Law RCA Secret, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- 2016 Stewarts Law RCA Secret, Royal College of Art, Dubai, UAE
- 2006 RCA Photography Print Auction, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- 2006 Milk Gallery Art Benefit, New York City, USA
- 2006 Plug, County Hall Gallery, London, UK
- 2006 New Dawn Fades, Charing X Gallery, London, UK
- 2006 New Dawn Fades, County Hall Gallery, London, UK
- 2005 RCA Photography Print Auction, Royal College of Art, London, UK
- 2000 New Acquisitions, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
- 1998 New Acquisitions, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
- 1997 Resolution, Mall Galleries, London, UK
- 1997 Resolution, Whiteley’s of Bayswater, London, UK
- 1996 This Great Photo Would Make A Fantastic Enlargement (Curated by Stephen Bull), Farnham Maltings, Farnham, UK
Artist Publications
- 2025 10Foot Loves A406, PpR Editions
- 2024 Joy Davidson, PpR Editions
Public Collections
- National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
Symposiums and Conferences
- 2025 ARPCE 5th International Conference, Barking & Dagenham College, UK.
- 2024 ARPCE 4th International Conference, Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, UK.
- 2016 Posing the Body: Stillness, Movement, and Representation (Symposium). The Courtauld Institute of Art, London. UK. Chair: Panel discussion between Jan de Villeneuve (fashion model), Julian Marshall (fashion photographer) and Caroline Hamilton (dance and costume historian).
Talks
- 2026 Brilliant Trees: A Survey of Council-Owned Street Trees Across the Becontree Estate, Valence House Museum Visitor Centre, Dagenham, UK
- 2021 RIBA Becontree Takes Over: A RIBA Late, Royal Institute of British Architects, London, UK
Teaching
- 2026 Big Creative Academy, London, UK
- 2026 East Surrey College/John Ruskin College, London, UK
- 2007-2025 Barking & Dagenham College, London, UK
David Bennett Photographer 