About

Josie is interested in the intersection of photography, ecology, botany, hydrology, and environmental activism to bolster solutions to climate and ecological emergencies.

She primarily focuses on water-related environments - the riverine and marine, the inland and the coastal. With a leaning towards abstract photography as a tool to inspire and channel eco-activism, the human use of vital natural resources such as water, soil, and sand plays a central role in her creative outputs.

Continuing her practice in sustainable and nature-based photographic methods to create curiosity and spark conversation about diverse environments, Josie engages with scientists, schools, communities and more to foster dialogue and amplify the voice of nature through photographic mediation.

However, she also draws attention to the materiality of photography and image-making, and the future of photography and what that may look like.

Her artwork responds to topics such as the global sand crisis and land access rights but she also explores social issues such as the West’s attitude to women as they age.

Other highlights include:

Founding Cornwall’s first socially engaged eco-darkroom, ShutterPod in 2012. Through this, Josie runs workshops to teach techniques such as anthotype, cyanotype, and chemical-free lumen printing, including educational photo-art sessions via the Cohort Hostel, St Ives.
Delivering eco-conscious and mindful photography sessions and talks such as Greener Photography for The Photographers’ Gallery, and River Relationships through Eco-photography for Right to Roam Kernow.
Producing short films for organisations such as the Cornwall Crafts Association and National Trust.
Achieving a MA in Photography with distinction via Falmouth University in 2018. She is now a Visiting Lecturer with the University and a part-time PhD student in the University’s Environmental Futures programme. Josie is also an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society.
Hosting the Photopocene podcast, which she started in 2021 to discuss the work, and motivations, of other eco-conscious photographers.
More than 15 years as an experienced arts and environmental communications and marketing specialist.

2024

River Relationships through Eco-Photography - a conversation session as part of the Right to Roam Kernow festival 2024.

Westcountry Artivists to Enhance Rivers - project founder and lead with Westcountry Rivers Trust. Film of some outcomes from the first workshop.

Transdisciplinary Conference Science & Sensibility - London Arts-Based Research Centre:
Presentation 1 - Supporting Eco-health of Rivers and Humans through Sensory-based Artwork: Josie Purcell and Dr Harry Ovington.
Presentation 2 - Rivercideotypes: the Power of Plants and Eco-conscious, Abstract Photographic Art as Mediator between Humans and Freshwater Environments: Josie Purcell.

Food Stories - recipes without words, made from memories: A Shutter Hub Editions Publication

Founder of the Photopocene Collective - an online and in-person get-together for eco-conscious photographic artists in Cornwall (& beyond).

Curator of The Waters of Sulis & Beyond - Fringe Arts Bath (FaB) 24 MAY - 9 JUNE

Driven to Abstraction - Prime Women Artists collective - Truro HIgh School for Girls 11-22 March

Abstract - Glasgow Photography Gallery - January 2024

2023

To The Sea - Shutter Hub exhibition, France, 2023-2024

Seaweed Cyanotypes: Marrying Rivers to the Sea, UK - cyanotype workshop for Natural England

Blue Your Minds, UK - Mindful and creative on location cyanotype workshop with Springboard Studios, Falmouth University

Visiting Lecturer with Falmouth University - BA Marine & Natural History Photography

Exposure Photography Festival, Canada - Tend Collective with the Silent Protest group show - February 12 artist talks

2022

In This Together - The Crypt, St Ives from 5-11 November.

Flotsam - The Malthouse Gallery, Lyme Regis from 1-7 July, brings together the work of ten artists and makers

Greener Photography - sustainable and environmental photography course with The Photographers’ Gallery

Visiting Lecturer with Falmouth University and PhD candidate

Hundred Heroines Bootcamp 2022. Photography & Protest. HH Bootcamp

Guest speaker with Diorama Days’ In Conversation

IM(MATERIAL). A 360 virtual exhibition exploring the tangible and intangible concepts surrounding materials with Curating Futures.

2021

Starting Space: selected for The Photo's Edge Presents exhibition for experimental, analogue photography. Follow on Instagram @thephotosedge

Shutter Hub OPEN 2020/21. Info via https://shutterhub.org.uk/exhibitions/shutter-hub-open-20-21-london/

Earth Humanities. Josie is a member of the newly formed Earth Humanities collective. More to follow soon.

Selected for the virtual gallery 'Catalyst', an online exhibition celebrating nearly a decade of arts/science collaborations as part of the ESI Creative Exchange at the University of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute. artsandcultureexeter.co.uk/news/experience-catalyst-a-new-virtual-exhibition - read Josie’s 6000 Flowers exhibition article, created with ESI scientists.

Selected for POSTCARDS FROM GREAT BRITAIN with ShutterHub - sharing visions of British culture at various European locations. Josie’s chosen image is included in the Porto, Portugal, display running to 27 June. Find out more on the ShutterHub blog.

2020

Selected for the Mayes Creative Artists’ Research Walk ‘Creative Observations: mayescreative.com/creativeobservations.html

Selected for the Ty Pawb Open: An Exhibition Celebrating Lockdown Creativity – typawb.wales/ty-pawb-open/

Selected for Postcards from Great Britain by Shutter Hub. Postcards from Great Britain launches in Haarlem on 05 March at the city’s famous Hotel Lion d’Or. shutterhub.org.uk

Took part in @womeninphoto #FFconversations between artists from all over the world.

Commissioned artist for Of Earth - For Earth. This project, funded by the EU via IMP@CT (University of Exeter), is designed to create dialogues around how our modern behaviours demand that the extractive industries provide resources without damaging the planet. Of Earth - For Earth

Selected for the Reclaim Photography Festival Beauty in Imperfection. reclaimphotographyfestival.org/reclaim-photography-festival

2019

One of three Cornwall-based commissioned artists for Reflect Arts & Mind Project - #ReflectBude - taking place October 2019. Produced by sounduk.net in association with the University of Exeter, LightVessel21 and funded by the University of Exeter, ACE, and the Wellcome Trust.

Harena Now solo exhibition & artist talk at the Devonport Guild. devonportguildhall.org/

Exhibiting in Time to Think with ShutterHub at Festival Pil’ours. shutterhub.org.uk/time-to-think-exhibition-installation-launch-event-photos/

Selected for the Contemporary Rome Art Award 19 - 21 July at Palazzo Velli. Curated by Dr. Ilaria Giacobbi. 27ruedefleurus.it/premio-contemporary-rome-art

Harena Now will be shown as part of Deep Water, the Falmouth MA Photography Graduate (2018/19) Show at the PrintSpace Gallery, London. Find out more at: deepwater.org.uk

Harena Now showing in Everything I Ever Learnt exhibition at Art at the ARB, Cambridge University.

Highly commended in Red Line Art Works Annual Awards for Harena Now.

Shutter Hub CLOSE UP review.

Following the first exhibition at the Shutter Hub OPEN at the Old Truman Brewery, London, Harena Now travelled with the exhibition to 5&33 Gallery in Amsterdam from December 7, 2018, to January 21, 2019.

2018

Selected for Shutter Hub OPEN 2018 at the Old Truman Brewery, London.

Nominated for the Royal Photographic Society’s Hundred Heroines project: http://www.rps100heroines.org/nominated-heroines/j/

Shortlisted for Pic.London

Exhibitions for Harena Now at Mount Pleasant Eco-park and The Fish Factory.

Shortlisted for the Eden Project/FoAM Residency: Invisible Worlds (2018): edenproject.com/visit/whats-on/invisible-worlds-launch-week

2017

Harena Now exhibition at Hayle Heritage Centre as part of Falmouth University's Searching for Meaning work-in-progress show.

6000 FLOWERS - Farm for AONBees - Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute commissioned exhibition for their bee science project

Garden Leave - visual artists' residency at Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset, to help develop an arts centre.

2016

14-18 NOW - a short film about the artists participating in the Cornwall Crafts Association and National Trust’s WWI commemorative exhibition.

2014

Phototasia - Crowdfunded and curated a one-day alternative photography festival as part of Newquay Art8. Exhibited within the event’s Newquay Cinema-based show.