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David Oates | Manchester Photographer

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Latest Editorial, Portrait & Commercial Photography Projects

A selection of my most recent commissions and ongoing projects.

The work shown here spans editorial assignments, portrait commissions, documentary projects and commercial photography for organisations and publishers. It reflects current areas of focus and the range of contexts in which I am working.

New projects are added regularly.

Portrait of Delaine Le Bas at Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester

Delaine Le Bas: Un-Fair-Ground Exhibition Photography at The Whitworth

David Oates February 18, 2026

At the opening of Un-Fair-Ground at The Whitworth in Manchester, artist Delaine Le Bas transformed the gallery into an immersive environment using layered textiles, painted slogans, and fairground imagery. The exhibition is designed to be experienced as a single, cohesive space rather than a series of separate works, inviting visitors to engage with themes of visibility, representation, and resistance.

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In Artists, Event Tags delaine le bas, Whitworth Art Gallery, Art gallery photography, Art, art installation, art gallery opening, artist, art opening, Art in Manchester, university, University of Manchester, painting, sculpture, installation, performance art, performance, roma
A member of Manchester Artist Teachers Collective makes work at Manchester Art Gallery

Photographing the Manchester Artist Teacher Collective

David Oates February 3, 2026

Manchester Artist Teacher Collective (MATC) is a group of artist teachers from secondary schools and colleges across Manchester, and gallery educators from Manchester Art Gallery, the Whitworth and HOME. They foster collaboration between art educators, local artists, studios and gallery spaces. Through this collaboration, they seek to develop and share artistic and educational expertise, enabling teachers to engage with contemporary practices and sustained personal making. By centring on the artist teachers’ own creative development, the collective highlights the local cultural ecology and future opportunities within Manchester for the young people they teach. 

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In Documentary, Artists, Event, Schools, Conference Tags Manchester Artists Teachers Collective, Manchester Art Gallery, art educators, creative development, (MATC, secondary school, colleges, gallery educators, Whitworth Art Gallery, HOME, HOME Manchester
Peter Harkness at Walker Art gallery Liverpool

Documenting an Art Fund Event Across Liverpool’s Museums and Galleries

David Oates February 3, 2026

Art Fund is the UK’s national charity supporting museums and galleries. For over 120 years grants have helped them to acquire, commission and display great works of art, fund curatorial training and research, and reach new communities and audiences across the UK. Their Art Partners are a group of patrons who share our passion for museums and galleries, providing annual support that makes our work possible. I was asked to document a patron’s event in Liverpool that gave exclusive insights into their work and the museums they support.

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In Documentary, Conference, Artists, Event Tags Art Fund, Art gallery photography, Art, art installation, Patrons, Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, FACT, FACT Liverpool, Sam Lackey, Liverpool Biennial, Bluecoat, Bluecoat Liverpool, Liverpool Library
Three young female students discussing a canvas painting at the 2024 Fine Art Masters Show in Holden Gallery, Manchester, contemporary art photography

Photographing the 2024 Fine Art Masters Show at the Reopened Holden Gallery

David Oates October 14, 2024

The Holden Gallery in Manchester has now reopened following a major two-year refurbishment of the historic Grosvenor building, revitalizing its exhibition spaces and offering a fresh, contemporary setting for art. I was recently back at the gallery to photograph the 2024 Fine Art Masters Show, an annual highlight that showcases the incredible talent of emerging artists from across the UK.

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In Artists, Documentary Tags Manchester School of Art, Holden Gallery, manchester metropolitan university, Masters show, Masters degree, Fine Art, graduation, graduates, final year show, Art gallery photography, art gallery opening, art installation, art opening, Art school, Art in Manchester, Arts in Manchester, Art, artist
Elderly woman sitting on a park bench looking at a historical display box describing her former home in Eccles, heritage photography and public art documentation

Documentary photography for Wild in Art - We Live Here Eccles

David Oates September 24, 2024

In the summer of 2023, visitors to Eccles discovered a vibrant Wild in Art trail celebrating the unique character and heritage of Eccles, which took over windows, walls and spaces in the town centre. The public art installation featured street art, paintings, murals, photography and pop up studios – all created by local artists and Eccles residents.

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In Artists, Documentary, Event, Editorial, Portraits Tags Eccles, Wild in Art, Community, We Live Here, Community arts, regeneration photography, regeneration photographer, regeneration, meanwhile, meanwhile uses, eccles town centre, Lauren Mullarkey, Ben Reed, Greater Manchester, Manchester, Public Art, Street Art
Silhouette of a woman photographed against abstract artwork at Manchester School of Art Final Year Show, editorial art photography capturing interaction with creative pieces

Documentary photography of Manchester School of Art - End of Year shows

David Oates September 23, 2024

As a freelance photographer, I’ve had the privilege of covering a range of events, from high-profile gallery openings to intimate artist workshops. But there’s something uniquely electric about photographing the Manchester School of Art’s Final Year Shows. This annual event is a visual feast—a whirlwind of creative expression that radiates youthful energy and bold experimentation.

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In Artists, Documentary Tags Manchester School at Art, MMU, manchester metropolitan university, university, Art school, End of year show, exhibition

Photographing for Art Fund at the Bronte Museum

David Oates April 4, 2023

Art Fund is a UK-based charity that aims to help museums and galleries to acquire and display works of art. The charity was established in 1903 and has since supported hundreds of museums and galleries across the country, helping to enhance their collections and make art more accessible to the public.

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In Documentary, Artists, Editorial, Event Tags yorkshire photographer, Northern Photographer, Haworth, Bronte, Bronte museum, Zaffar Kunial, Amy Liptrot, Brontë sisters, West Yorkshire, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Bronte family home, Documentary photographer, Documentary Photography, documentary, Editorial Photography, Art Fund

Manchester Met SODA Modal gallery opening

David Oates April 4, 2023

The Modal Gallery at the Manchester School of Digital Arts (SODA) is a unique space that has become a hub of creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Through its immersive exhibitions, cutting-edge technology, and interactive displays, the gallery has had a significant impact on the SODA community, helping to foster a sense of community and connection among students, faculty members, and industry professionals.

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In Documentary, Artists, Event Tags manchester metropolitan university, MMU, MODA, SODA, School of Digital Arts
Documentary photograph of the exhibition of Suzanne Lacy at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, UK

Suzanne Lacy at Whitworth Art Gallery

David Oates February 8, 2022

Suzanne Lacy

What kind of city?
A manual for social change

The Whitworth presents the first major UK presentation of multiple works of US artist Suzanne Lacy, a pioneer of social practice and community organising for almost five decades. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, What kind of city? has been conceived with the artist as a project that is more than an exhibition, one that takes key works with relevance to our current context and uses them to convene people in order to start new initiatives that will actively help rebuild our city. Working around fundamental themes such as youth agency, borders, social cohesion, and work prospects for older women, the exhibition is designed to operate as an evolving manual for how we create equitable transformation. This underpins a new direction of travel for the Whitworth, as an institution that actively works for and with people across the city, one that begins with the question: after Covid, what kind of city can we make together?

Thanks again to my friends at the Whitworth for asking me to document the event opening and associated artist’s talk.

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In Documentary, Artists Tags Whitworth Art Gallery, Art, art installation, Art gallery photography, Art in Manchester, Suzanne Lacy, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Photographer, manchester, Manchester photographer, art gallery opening
Seashell Trust & Lauren Mullarkey Location: The Atrium, Library Walk (mixed media installation)

Seashell Trust & Lauren Mullarkey Location: The Atrium, Library Walk (mixed media installation)

50 Windows of Creativity. An assignment for Wild in Art

David Oates November 16, 2020

This autumn, Manchester is hosting 50 Windows of Creativity, a showcase of the work of artists and makers displayed in a series of windows, venues, businesses and spaces across the city centre.

The displays feature multiple art forms from fine art and photography to ceramics, crafts, mosaics and murals curated by well-known and emerging artists and collectives – all with a connection to Greater Manchester.

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In Documentary, Artists, Event, Editorial, Portraits, Street Photography Tags 50 Windows of Creativity, Wild in Art, Manchester, Manchester photographer, Manchester Photography, Manchester Photographer, graffiti, street Art, Art, Lockdown, Covid 19, Coronavirus, Manchester art, Arts in Manchester, Art in Manchester, Outdoor event, Walking trail, Urban walking trail, urban art trail
Helen Knowle’s four-screen installation Trickle Down at final set-up

Documentary photography of Helen Knowles 'Trickle Down', Arebyte Gallery, London

David Oates January 27, 2020

Trickle Down, A New Vertical Sovereignty is a tokenised four-screen video installation and generative soundscape, which explores value systems and wealth disparity. The artwork is composed of auction scenes, performances and choral interludes by different communities such as prisoners, blockchain technology employees, market sellers, and Sotheby’s auction bidders.

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In Documentary, Artists, Event Tags Helen Knowles, Arebyte Gallery, London, Manchester photographer, Documentary Photography, Documentary photographer, documentary, event photography, event photographer, exhibition, trickle down, Poplar, Canning Town, Conceptual Art, photography, Photography in London, Art gallery photography, art installation, art opening
Photography of Cecily Brown leading to reinterpretation by Shana Wilson

Cecily Brown by Shana Wilson

David Oates February 6, 2019

Shana Wilson approached me to use my portrait of artist Cecily Brown as the basis for a portrait in her series TribeShe promoting visibility and empowerment of women over 40.

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In Portraits, Artists Tags Cecily Brown, Shana Wilson, Manchester Photography, Manchester photographer, Portrait Photography
Portrait of poets Andrew and Ian McMillan photographed for The Sunday Times

Ian & Andrew McMillan

David Oates January 28, 2019

It was a real pleasure to photograph poets Andrew McMillan and his father Ian for the Sunday Times ‘Relative Values’ feature a few months ago.

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In Artists, Portraits, Editorial Tags artist, Ian McMillan, Andrew McMillan, Sunday Times, Relative Values, Poet, Poetry, Manchester Photography, Manchester photographer, Editorial Photography, Portrait Photography
Cecily Brown.jpg

Cecily Brown

David Oates March 6, 2018

Shot at the opening of Shipwreck Drawings at Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester 

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In Portraits, Artists Tags Cecily Brown, artist, Manchester photographer, Manchester Photography, Portrait Photography
Associated, Brooklyn
Associated, Brooklyn
Great to work with TOL Events, @adidas and @versus at @manchesterunited yesterday.

@adidasfootball @adidaswomen
Great to work with TOL Events, @adidas and @versus at @manchesterunited yesterday. @adidasfootball @adidaswomen
Pizza fire
Pizza fire
Robert Indiana, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, September 2022
Robert Indiana, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, September 2022
Buslingthorpe Works.
Buslingthorpe Works.
Manchester City Gallery

#manchester
#gallery
Manchester City Gallery #manchester #gallery
Barmouth beach 

#barmouth #wales
Barmouth beach #barmouth #wales
Amsterdam Noord

#amsterdam #amsterdamnoord
Amsterdam Noord #amsterdam #amsterdamnoord
#wales #beach #seaside #holidays
#wales #beach #seaside #holidays
It was a pleasure to photograph Ann Treneman for The Times recently, a shoot that resulted in my first cover for The Times Weekend supplement and my first image on the cover of The Times.
Until 2015, Ann was The Times' parliamentary sketchwriter and
It was a pleasure to photograph Ann Treneman for The Times recently, a shoot that resulted in my first cover for The Times Weekend supplement and my first image on the cover of The Times. Until 2015, Ann was The Times' parliamentary sketchwriter and then the paper's chief theatre critic. Ann subsequently retrained in horticulture and the article details her preparations for this year's Chelsea flower show for which she has designed a garden. @thetimes #thetimes #chelseaflowershow @timesweekend @the_rhs @show_chelsea @anntreneman1
Some highlights from my recent shoot at Adidas UK

#adidasuk #adidasxgucci #sport 
#sportswear #reebok #adidasoriginals
Some highlights from my recent shoot at Adidas UK #adidasuk #adidasxgucci #sport #sportswear #reebok #adidasoriginals
#britishrailways #britishrail #eastlancashirerailway #bury #train #trainspotting #heritagerailway
#britishrailways #britishrail #eastlancashirerailway #bury #train #trainspotting #heritagerailway
Frigates
Frigates
Some paper peeling off a wall in Marseille. I'm currently in Scotland, the light is inferior

#marseille #citeradieuse #southoffrance #suddelafrance #mediterranean
Some paper peeling off a wall in Marseille. I'm currently in Scotland, the light is inferior #marseille #citeradieuse #southoffrance #suddelafrance #mediterranean
I am shocked and disappointed to hear that Alastair Hudson has been asked by the University of Manchester to leave his post as director of Manchester and Whitworth art galleries.

Alastair turned the Whitworth into a gallery where diverse voices coul
I am shocked and disappointed to hear that Alastair Hudson has been asked by the University of Manchester to leave his post as director of Manchester and Whitworth art galleries. Alastair turned the Whitworth into a gallery where diverse voices could be heard, excluded groups were welcomed and important questions asked. I hope the university sees fit to reverse its decision and I look forward to continuing to photograph the exhibitions curated under his guidance. #manchester #whitworthartgallery #whitworthgallery #manchesterart #cityartgallery #forensicarchitecture #alastairhudson @forensicarchitecture #university @whitworthart @magwagdirector
In the spray booth

#carbody #manchester #bodyshop #spraybooth
In the spray booth #carbody #manchester #bodyshop #spraybooth
In Situ (formerly The Commercial/Turville) in Hulme (or as it's now known, Castlefield)

#manchester #castlefield #hulme
In Situ (formerly The Commercial/Turville) in Hulme (or as it's now known, Castlefield) #manchester #castlefield #hulme
Mam Tor. Mother Hill. The Shivering Mountain.

The base of Mam Tor is composed of black shales of the Bowland Shale Formation of Serpukhovian age overlain by turbiditic sandstone of the Mam Tor Sandstone F
Mam Tor. Mother Hill. The Shivering Mountain. The base of Mam Tor is composed of black shales of the Bowland Shale Formation of Serpukhovian age overlain by turbiditic sandstone of the Mam Tor Sandstone Formation of Bashkirian age. #mamtor #derbyshire #nationalpark #nationaltrust #peakdistrict #edale #hope #castleton #geology
Lockdown BMW

#bmw
Lockdown BMW #bmw

David Oates is a photographer based in Manchester, England.

Clients include Wall Street Journal, ESPN, The Financial Times, Art Fund, Transport for the North, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, BP, BBC, The Times, The Observer, UK Youth, Samaritans, The Whitworth Art Gallery, Asthma UK, Finisterre, 11 Freunde (Berlin), Scandinavian Airlines, Manchester Museum, OTW (Stockholm, Business Insider (New York) and the British Ecological Society.

Exhibited internationally at Dallas Biennial, Recontres D’Arles, France; Festival Images, Vevey, Switzerland and the Dong Gang Photography Festival, Korea.


David Oates Photography

david@davidoates.net

07732 272 163

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