'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.' (William Shakespeare, 1599)

'De wereld is een schouwtoneel, elk speelt zijn rol en krijgt zijn deel.' (Joost van den Vondel, 1668)

I was born in 1962 in Amsterdam, though of British ancestry. After an initial career in professional audio electronics, and many a wandering subsequently (attempting to be a writer and a musician for instance), I at last decided to do for a living what was finally revealed to me I am best at and enjoy most: taking pictures. I enrolled to Fotoacademie Amsterdam and graduated cum laude in 2003. Shortly after I started working for Dutch daily newspaper Volkskrant and it's weekly Volkskrant Magazine. Currently I am affiliated with Academie voor Beeldvorming, an artists' collective that aims to visualize changes in society by means of Art. From 2005 up until 2019 I was also working as a mentor and a lecturer at Fotoacademie Amsterdam as well as Fotoacademie Rotterdam (of which the latter sadly ceased to exist in 2014).

Each and every photograph is just a simple two-dimensional illustration and has little to do with reality itself. Regardless of the setting - whether it be a controlled studio setup or a disturbing real life event - there is no way the spectator can reconstruct the veracity of photographic depiction. As a photographer I am true to the principles of classic documentary photography, but at the same time I aim to produce images that raise doubt and confuse the spectator. Is this picture staged or is it not? I'm strongly influenced by Late Gothic and Early Renaissance painting (Paolo Uccello, Piero della Francesca, Massacio.) Hence the absence of perspective and plasticity in many of my pictures. A deliberate choice for an evidently unrealistic style, in more than one way ressembling the modern cartoon. Shortly after came Renaissance, and with it the introduction of the concept of Art. In it´s slipstream came numerous pictural styles that approached our perception of reality in ever changing ways. Worst of all was Realism. Mainstream photojournalism is still stuck there, not realising the genre has gradually grown into an absolete iconography.

We cannot - not ever - capture the essence of our experiences objectively.

Awards:

2003: Photo Academy Award, Overall winner

2011: Blurb PBN People's Choice Nominee

2013: 2nd prize Selection of Dutch Photography (SO2013)

2014: Nominee Selection of Dutch Photography (SO2014)

Exhibitions:

2000-2011: 8 different shows at Galerie Fotogram Amsterdam

2002: Tulips for Natasha, Agnietenkapel Gouda

2003: Beelddialect, Guardianenhof 's-Hertogenbosch

2003: I Shoot at Random, Loods 6 Amsterdam

2004: Huisje, Boompje, Beestje, Guardianenhof 's-Hertogenbosch

2006: Fanfare (solo), Kruithuis 's-Hertogenbosch

2006: Straatwaarde, Kruithuis ‘s-Hertogenbosch (also curator)

2007: Jeroen Bosch Bespiegelingen, CBK-selectie Kruithuis 's-Hertogenbosch

2007: De Uitwisseling, Sigarenfabriek Delft

2007: Schilderkunstig Genootschap Fotografeert, Pulchri Den Haag

2008: Het Vertrek, TNT-gebouw 's-Hertogenbosch

2008: XXNL, TNT-gebouw 's-Hertogenbosch

2008-2011: 5 shows at Fotogalerie Rotterdam

2010: 2e Kwartier Blauwdruk, Tresoar, Noorderlicht Fotofestival Leeuwarden

2011: Party (solo), Fotogalerie Rotterdam

2011: Cast an Eye Without a Blush, SM’s Stedelijk Museum 's-Hertogenbosch

2012: 2 x Mediawand Stadsschouwburg Rotterdam

2012: Neighbourhood (solo), Makerskamer Bartjes ‘s-Hertogenbosch

2013: Unseen, Winners Exhibition SO2013, ADCN Amsterdam

2013: Paerlen van de Swijnen, De Fruitvis Rotterdam

2013: Exxtra SO2013, Spinnerij Oosterveld Enschede

2014: Jules dichter bij - Deelder 70 jaar, Galerie AAAfresh123, Rotterdam

2014: Mediawand, Schouwburg Rotterdam

2015: Wall of Fame, Fotoacademie Amsterdam

2015: Topstok 25, selectie jubileum expo STOK, Kruithuis 's-Hertogenbosch

2015: #Huisje #Boompje billboard-expo Graphic Design Festival, Breda

2016: Identity, Photofestival Rotterdam

2016: Het Raadsel Jee Mol, Fotoacademie Amsterdam (curator)

2016: Fun and Respect since 1927, Barbizon Hotel Amsterdam (curator)

2016: BredaPhoto International Photo Festival, Breda

2017: Rotterdam Photo Festival, Rotterdam

2017: Over Leven, duo-expo met Sas Schilten, Cacaofabriek, Helmond

2017: Kunstnacht Den Bosch, Mengfabriek, Koudijs Lokaal (solo)

2018: Rotterdam Photo Festival, Rotterdam 2018: Wanderlust, Galerie Sehnsucht, Rotterdam 2018: Winterreise, Galerie Sehnsucht, Rotterdam