About
George Rayner is a visual artist from Croyde, North Devon, working primarily with analogue black and white photography, moving image, and site-responsive installation. He holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Photography from the University of Derby and currently works as Assistant Manager at Studio KIND, alongside developing his own practice.
Rooted in slow processes and environmental observation, his work explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, often with a quiet humour and a sense of gentle disruption. Working with traditional analogue methods, he has adapted his darkroom processes to be more ecologically conscious, incorporating natural interventions and sustainable materials where possible.
Landscape plays a central role in his practice, not simply as subject but as collaborator. His work responds to transitional environments: paths, edgelands, and overlooked places where change, erosion, and contradiction quietly reside. Using photography as a tool of material exploration, his prints are often manipulated, twisted, stained, or exposed to the elements. These textures speak to ecological instability and impermanence.
Themes of climate anxiety, transience, and human interpretation run through his work. Rather than taking a didactic approach, he allows space for reflection. Whether working in still, moving, or sculptural form, he reframes familiar rural scenes through poetic gestures that reflect the fragility and absurdity of our coexistence with nature.
He has exhibited across the South West in group exhibitions and three solo shows. In 2021, He completed an internship with FORMAT International Photography Festival. His practice is grounded in rural experience and shaped by collaboration, material experimentation, and slow engagement with place.
Exhibitions
Solo
Uneven Graining at Traction Projects Exeter
Experimental showcase of 5 original pieces in window display March-May 2025 https://www.positivelightprojects.com/traction-project-space
Back On The Farm at Studio KIND.
Commissioned Documentary project on young farmers of North Devon Sep-Oct 2024 // https://www.studiokind.org.uk/back-on-the-farm
Transient Tales at The Plough
Artist wall at The Plough Arts Centre Great Torrington July-August 2023 // https://www.theploughartscentre.org.uk/exhibition/artists-wall-25
Transient Tales of the Teinter at Studio KIND.
Solo Show Jan - Feb 2022 at Studio Kind North Devon // https://www.studiokind.org.uk/george-rayner-transient-tales
Group
THG Open 2025
https://www.thelmahulbert.com/exhibitions/thg-open-2025
Studio KIND. Summer Open 2025
https://www.studiokind.org.uk/summer-open-2025
Studio KIND. Summer Open 2024
https://www.studiokind.org.uk/summer-open-2024
New Beginnings at Badger in the wall gallery 4th May - 1st June 2024
https://www.badgerinthewall.com/new-beginnings-gallery
Out With The Old, In With The New, A group exhibition by CAMP members at Studio KIND. 2024
https://www.studiokind.org.uk/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new
Studio KIND. Summer Open 2023
https://www.studiokind.org.uk/summer-open-2023
Monochrome part 1 2023
Glasgow Gallery of Photography exhibition 2023. // https://www.glasgowgalleryofphotography.com/monochrome-part-1-2023
D31 Photo Prize 2022
2nd place in the D31 Photo Prize exhibition Autumn 2022 https://www.d31artgallery.com/vote
“Unstable Ground” Studio KIND.
Group Show curated by Corinna Wagner and Studio KIND. 2022 // https://www.studiokind.org.uk/unstable-ground
“Evidence” Bath Photofestival
Bath photo festival 2022 // https://www.bathphotographyfestival.co.uk/evidence-exhibitions-2022
Extravagant Disjunction” ACE Arts
April 2022 ACE Arts Somerton, Somerset
“Ossuary” Fronteer Art
April-May 2022 Fonteer Art Gallery, Sheffield
“Betweening” A contribution to No.6 Ephemeris Tour De Moon
Tour De Moon Press Issue No.6 April 2022
FORMAT - graduate-award-exhibition 2021
https://formatfestival.com/event/format-graduate-award-exhibition/
Eagle Market, Derby - Oct 2021
Between Past and Future
University of Derby BA (Hons) Photography Degree Show 2021
FORMAT 2021 International Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPogWS6l3l8
“A Moment of Zen” Exposure Festival Online.
The fifth digital edition of the exhibition 2020
http://www.exposurephotofestival.com/digital-exhibition
Shutter Hub Yearbook 2020
In the final 100 Photos that went into the print publication.
https://shutterhub.org.uk/exhibition-yearbook-2020/#images-218
Erasmus+ Documentary of Culture.
May 2019 Exhibition in Huelva, Spain.
Foundation Art Diploma showcase
-Exhibition of final major project 2018
awarded with…
BA(Hons) Photography FORMAT Award 2021
For his degree show installation project entitled: