The Watermill Gallery, Aberfeldy, open Mon-Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 12noon to 5pm

This is the first time David Peat’s photographs of Glasgow during the late 60s have ever been on public display. Peat took these pictures when he was in his early twenties and, armed with his first camera, they represent his earliest experience of documenting the world around him. They are the seeds that sowed his career as an award-winning cameraman and documentary film-maker.

Peat’s photographs give a rare and nostalgic glimpse of children living in the Cowcaddens, Govan, and Gorbals areas of the city, before the crumbling tenements were destroyed by the ‘new vision’ for the city, and replaced with high-rise flats. They capture the conditions that people were living in, and include rare close-up shots of children from the period.

Photographer David Peat said:

‘I hope these photographs stir a reaction, evoke memories, or make us reflect on the nostalgia for old Glasgow and the tenement way of life. You can see why times had to change, but do they also show the last of the simple, community-led, street life that has now been lost?’

Peat’s photographs are amongst the last to be taken during this period, when some of the key photographers of Glasgow street life were working; Oscar Marzaroli (with whom Peat was close friends), and Joseph McKenzie.

Gallery Owner Kevin Ramage said:

‘When David first approached the gallery to display his prints, we had no idea what his world of ‘grubby weans and well-worn close mouths’ would be like. However, we were delighted when we saw his collection of photographs and feel they are very much on a par with some of the great classics taken during this era.’

David Peat currently lives near in Glasgow. He worked as a cameraman for ten years before becoming a director and documentary film-maker. He has won numerous awards including six ‘Best Documentary’ awards, most recently for Gutted which was broadcast on BBC Scotland.

David’s rare collection of photographs have been in storage as contact sheets since they were taken nearly forty years ago. Original silver gelatin prints of the photographs in the exhibition will be on sale at The Watermill Gallery.

For further information please contact: Emma Henderson or Fiona Atherton at Colman Getty PR 0131 558 8851, or email emma@colmangetty.co.uk