Rick Barks was born in Staffordshire in 1964 and moved to Derbyshire in 1969. After leaving school at sixteen he worked as an engineering apprentice for a large nationalised industry in Derby. However he soon developed a keen interest in music and spent most of his spare time travelling up and down the country playing live music with a group of friends. Eager to travel he moved to Spain where he found himself teaching English, and it was there that his growing interest in photography took off, when a friend kindly lent him some darkroom equipment.
Rick returned to England to study photography, and after completing an HND at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design he worked for a range of clients from a small academic publisher to large Japanese design agency. Prior to this he also gained experience working as a photographer’s assistant, set builder for a pop video production company, and later as a graphic designer.
Still keen to develop, Rick joined the Masters Degree programme at the University of Westminster in London while continuing his freelance work, and it was there, alongside some inspirational tutors and peers that he developed a thorough understanding of contemporary photographic practice. He has spent the last seventeen years teaching photography in a number of colleges from Burton to Brighton, and is now a Senior Lecturer in Photography at Staffordshire University.
His own work, rather than being centred around any specific photographic genre covers photomontage, audio visual installation and image appropriation, as well as other more traditional ways of working.
Academic qualifications
MA Photographic Studies - University of Westminster FHEA PGCHE
Expertise
Rick is a professional lens-based practitioner with experience in both gallery and commercial sectors. He has worked for numerous clients ranging from small academic publishers through to large Japanese design agencies. He has also worked as a photographer’s assistant, a set builder for music video production company and as a graphic designer. His exhibited work, rather than being centred around any specific photographic genre, covers photomontage, audio visual installation, image appropriation, as well as other more traditional ways of working.
Research interests
Rick is interested in both historical and contemporary debates that surround and inform all aspects of the photographic medium
Teaching
Photographic Theory Contextual studies Black and white darkroom skills
Publications
Rick's work has been published in Ag Magazine The International Journal for photographic Arts and Practice and The British Journal of Photography