Ray Gumbley Photography

03/08/2026

Most of my work is around arty portraits, and street and event photography, but lately I've felt the need to get back to doing some arty pieces with my photography..
I've always liked the work of Edward Hopper and Jack Vettriano—not to copy their paintings, but because of the way they use light, composition and atmosphere to tell a story. Hopper's quiet, contemplative moments and Vettriano's cinematic sense of mystery.
What I find particularly fascinating is that Vettriano often worked from photographs to create his paintings. In a way, I'm doing the reverse—working back from the paintings to create photographs inspired by their mood and storytelling. It's been a refreshing challenge, and working with Tina these are a few of the images we’ve been experimenting with.

Tina S- Model

07/07/2026

One of the things I've loved most about being involved in the Building Bridges project has been the chance to spend time with such talented, passionate, and genuinely young inspiring people.
These portraits are of Claudia Sweet, one of the artists representing England. From the moment we met, it was clear how deeply she cares about her work. There's a quiet confidence and authenticity in the way she creates, and her talent speaks for itself. It was a real pleasure to photograph her and to try and capture some of her creativity, warmth, and character.
I feel incredibly lucky that projects like this allow me to meet people like Claudia and tell a small part of their story through my camera.
You can see Claudias work alongside all the other artists on the building Bridges Project 2026
Preview 10th July (6pm – 7.30pm)
Exhibition Dates 11th July - 25 August 2026
Venue Artcore Gallery , 8 Albert Street, Derby, DE12DS

Artcore Gallery Zahir Shaikh

12/06/2026

08/06/2026

20/05/2026

Faces & Places brings together photographer Ray Gumbley’s ongoing exploration of identity, memory, and belonging across two connected cities: Derby and Osnabrück. Developed in celebration of fifty years of the twinning relationship between the two places, the exhibition reflects on how communities are shaped not only by geography, but by the people who inhabit, remember, and continually redefine them.

This exhibition builds on Gumbley’s earlier residency project at Artcore’s Cabin Fever in 2021, where he spent a month documenting Osnabrück Square through the lives of local residents and workers. Through portraiture, conversation, and public participation, the project revealed the quiet significance of everyday encounters and shared spaces. The resulting outdoor exhibition and collective time capsule became both a record of the neighbourhood and a living reflection of community memory.
In Faces & Places, that archive continues to grow. Bringing together photographs made in Derby and Osnabrück, Gumbley’s images trace connections between people and place, intimacy and public life, history and the present moment. His portraits are not simply records of individuals; they are collaborative acts of recognition that invite viewers to consider the stories, relationships, and lived experiences embedded within urban spaces.

At the heart of the exhibition is participation. Visitors are invited not only to observe, but to contribute, becoming part of an evolving dialogue about community, cultural exchange, and belonging. In doing so, Faces & Places asks us to reflect on what it means to share a place with others, and how photography can preserve fleeting moments of human connection across borders and generations.

Launch Event Details:

📅 Launch: Friday 5th June, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
📅 Exhibition Dates: 6th June - 4th July
📍 Artcore Gallery, 8 Albert Street, Osnabruck Square Derby DE1 2DS

We look forward to welcoming you.

Book your FREE place: https://bit.ly/faces-and-places-exhibition
Ray Gumbley Photography Artcore Gallery Derby City Council Arts Council England