BORTHWICK X GRANT ANDERSON

Our Q&A with Grant Anderson, a Commercial Photographer working in luxury, design and culture, discusses his upbringing and how his childhood experiences outdoors influenced his life and work. He shares his journey from studying at Gray's School of Art to becoming a photographer from documenting skateboarding culture and nightlife to his work in the drinks industry today.

Anderson describes his photography style as editorial or reportage, focusing on authenticity and storytelling. He enjoys photographing people in their own spaces, especially masters of their craft in the whisky industry. His portfolio also includes landscape and environmental photography, with a project called "Scotland Will Wait" winning a Scottish Design Award.

Q: Borthwick is a lifestyle brand in Scotland so we love to learn more about the place. Tell me about how you got where you are today, what influenced you?

A big part of my upbringing was centred around being outdoors, camping holidays in the North West Highlands. Some of my fondest and most vivid childhood memories included time spent at Auchmelvich, Clachtoll and fishing off the pier at Lochinver - I think these early experiences are reflected in my life and work today. I grew up in Angus and after high school I moved away to study and spent some time between Aberdeen and Dundee. Now, rather serendipitously I am based in Angus again.

It's been a great spot for our little family to settle - Being near the beach is amazing but we inevitably end up with a very sandy house! I studied at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen and I would be the first to admit I was a fairly directionless student, not knowing what I wanted to do. I was always out skateboarding with my pals - having fun, documenting our tricks and being creative. I guess like a lot of creatives my passion came from being active with skateboarding and the culture around it being my thing. I then started to use my camera picking up small jobs with Snow Sports Scotland doing video and documenting their events in the mountains. On the rare days I did attend Uni I would pitch up next to my friend, and fantastic photographer, Tom Joy, who helped me out and let me borrow some equipment. This made it possible to start shooting nightlife and opened me up to lots of great promoters, DJs and ultimately sowed the seeds of my work in the drinks industry.

I really felt accepted into the nightlife scene in Aberdeen, in particular venues like Bar Ninety Nine, Orchid, MUSA and photographing acts like Jeff Mills, 2manydjs, Nina Kraviz, All Night Passion and Green Velvet so it didn’t really feel like work at all! Later on, part of my archive of images from this era was absorbed into the V&A Dundee - The Scottish Digital Clubbing Archive following their fantastic Night Fever - Designing Club Culture Exhibition in 2021.

Q: What is your photography style?

That is an interesting question and something that I have thought about a lot. I think my style is closer to editorial or reportage than a fully commercial - I love the images to be as authentic and real as possible and using story telling elements where I can. One of the things that I like most about my job is that I get to meet really interesting people and having the opportunity to learn whilst photographing someone in their own space is a real privilege. Take the whisky industry for example, experts in their field working in a beautiful and inspiring environment - all masters of their craft. Remaining open to learn is a great way to put whoever I’m photographing at ease and having a subject work through their processes whilst I document it, then sensitively directing it is my preferred way of working.

My portfolio also has a thread of landscape and environment running through it - These were images I had captured whilst documenting my time in nature and it's a project I intend to continue. During the pandemic in 2020 I had won a ‘Small Business Grant' from Ocean Outdoor and part of that portfolio was used in a project called ‘Scotland Will Wait’, - in collaboration with Cameron and Mark from Form Digital and Laura at Need. The project went on to win a Scottish Design Award for Self Promotion. Maybe it was a coincidence but following that Scottish Design Award I found agencies would pair me up with more outdoor jobs capturing products and people in wild spaces. One that stands out for me was a shoot with the agency John Doe for Tobermory Distillery and the wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan on the island he grew up on, Mull. Featuring locations on Staffa, Lunga and a shot list which included a Puffin shot - you can’t help but beam when that brief hits your inbox!

Q: What is a project that has inspired you on home soil?

I try to find inspiration wherever I can and am interested in all the usual stuff; design, architecture, nature and music. I am currently listening to ‘The Wild Places’ by Robert Macfarlane, a writer I am constantly inspired by to get outside more. Also, recently I’ve been working closely with the team at V&A Dundee & Dundee Design Festival documenting their exhibitions, artefacts and creating PR images for the museum. It's always very insightful to work alongside curators, creatives and makers and its totally given me a renewed appreciation for everything that goes into making a really engaging and immersive exhibition.

Q: What are some brands that make you tick in your day-to-day life?

I tend to take the less is more approach when purchasing clothes, seeking out quality over quantity and also enjoy shopping on Vinted or in charity shops. For my work, where possible I get my equipment from Ffordes Photographic which has an incredibly good stock of pre-loved camera gear and base in Beauly. There are a few brands that stick out, I have a lot of Norse Projects, Kestin and Redwing and between Apple, Fujifilm and Profoto that pretty much covers off a lot of my day to day work gear. I seem to have been compulsively buying a slightly older shape of Mountain Equipment Gore-Tex Shell that suits me well - I now have 3! Also I can’t resist some Harris Tweed.

The reason I’m drawn to these brands is because they make quality, hard wearing, functional clothing. For work I have a go to ‘uniform’ of a chore coat jacket, cotton trousers, a shirt and boots. I need lots of big pockets without looking too much like a fisherman and like the versatility to be styled up if I need to look more formal or styled down for the day to day. For the house, I am currently sitting at a one of one table that is made by my good friend Aymeric at Draff Studio. I am into buying things that are going to last, with minimal maintenance and impact to the environment.

Q: Talking about your Borthwick coat - how are you wearing it?

I most recently wore it to work on a shoot for Dean Banks in his newest restaurant Dulse Leith. One of the things that I really like about it is that it has big pockets for my equipment so I can easily change lenses without carrying a bag around. It’s also hard-wearing! I really love that the fabric is sourced from a UK based mill and the coat itself is manufactured so close by to where I live in Fife - what a great way to produce a garment. I’ve had a few compliments when I’ve worn it - which is a very rare occurrence for me!

Q: Getting back to chatting about Scotland, when we talk about Scotland as a place, what does it mean to you?

Scotland is so accessible with varied terrain where you can feel truly remote and I think it's great that you can be challenged by an environment with still little impact on people. The food and drink offering is exceptional and we have an extremely high standard of hospitality that starts with a larder full of locally sourced ingredients from seafood, game, vegetables, seasonal fruit, all ending up on your plate or in your glass. This paired with the knowledgeable, passion and welcoming hosts makes it a foodie's dream.

Also, having worked on lots of projects in the cultural sector I get a really great insight into different makers and artists from around Scotland and having an interest in design and culture there is no end to amazing exhibitions. Next on my list is Andy Goldsworthy at the National. Scotland is a destination which is equal parts luxury, wilderness and culinary delight.

More of the same as I love the current mix of clients across many sectors. Alongside my photography work I’ve also been fortunate enough to work as a Lecturer, Workshop Leader and Design Educator. Since 2016, I’ve worked with a team at Aberdeen City Council called Creative Learning and a fantastic project coordinator Andrea Howard provided one to one workshops with young people from difficult backgrounds with the aim of helping them learn about something creative they were interested in, improving their confidence and having fun. I always found that a complete contrast to my commercial work - in a very good and beneficial way! Really refreshing and the young people were such an inspiring bunch.

Note from the Editor - Thanks to Grant Anderson for testing his Blane work coat in his natural habitat and workplace and letting us get to know him behind the scenes.

Work with Grant Anderson - https://www.grantanderson.me/

Grant wears The Blane Work Coat in navy blue. The Blane is produced in a mid-weight quality canvas, proudly Made in Scotland.