Reen Pilkington: A Retrospective

The splendour of the natural world captivates photographer and film maker Reen Pilkington whose retrospective exhibition, My Mind's Eye, takes place at the environmental and educational charity Roots and Shoots in Lambeth from 9 to 15 July (closed Thursday 12 July).

Over a career spanning more than 30 years among the places she has photographed and filmed are the great beaches, skies and wildlife of the Norfolk coast, the landscapes of Australia, and London’s wild side. Her painterly eye finds depths and heights of colour and light that might otherwise be missed which results in images of joy and beauty. Using microscopy she reveals the patterns and textures of inner worlds.

In recent years she has spent time in the wild garden at Roots and Shoots with David Perkins, who runs the environmental education programme. Reen has worked with David and other artists on projects with primary school children combining art and science, and imaginatively exploring microscopic life in a drop of water, and how insects see. The award winning wild garden is home to a rich biodiversity and Reen’s exquisite photographs of flowers will be among the 200 images exhibited.

There are portraits here too of the diverse community at the neighbouring primary school taken over a ten year period, documentary images from the 80s, family 'albums' and most recently Reen's dynamic life drawings. It is a wide-ranging and engaging show.

Reen has been seriously ill since 2010 and My Mind’s Eye is co-curated by her friends Gin Dunscombe and Trish le Gal.