RPS Contemporary and RPS Documentary Groups - Tom Astbury

Tom Astbury delivered a reflective and insightful overview of his photographic career, tracing its development from his early work in Manchester and Scotland. He described documenting the rapidly disappearing industrial landscapes of Falkirk’s iron foundries and coal mines during the late 1970s and early 1980s, capturing a pivotal moment of social and economic transition. He also discussed his project Dùthcas, inspired by the poetry of Duncan Ban MacIntyre, the 18th-century Gaelic poet, which examines the historical and environmental transformations of Highland Perthshire. In addition, Tom presented recent work focusing on contemporary urban development in Spain, underscoring his continuing engagement with the theme of evolving historical landscapes. The talk concluded with a thoughtful discussion on the importance of documenting working-class communities and industries, highlighting photography’s vital role in preserving collective memory and social history for future generations.