Graham Nash: Life on the Road

3rd April – 26th May 2013

Proud Camden is pleased to present Graham Nash: Life on the Road; a collection of rock ‘n’ roll portraits taken by musician, photographer and political activist Graham Nash. Including images of his musical muses, acquaintances and closest collaborators, this intimate series features Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, David Crosby and other 70s greats.

While best known as a founding member of ‘The Hollies’ and later ‘Crosby, Stills and Nash’; Nash also developed a parallel career as a photographer, collector, and pioneer of digital imaging alongside his music and has produced three photography publications of his own and other’s work.

Shot between 1969 and 2003, this exhibition of Nash’s photographs includes revealing portraits of family and friends, images of life on the road, still lifes and landscapes, street photographs, and a unique series of self-portraits.

Nash has said of photography: “I sense the very same energy in photography that I find in music. Through these rock ’n’ roll photos we are conveying what is so difficult to put into words: how the spirit of rock ’n’ roll is mainly an attitude; an attitude of ‘get out of my way, I have something to say here.’ Whether you’re a country singer, a pop, rock, blues, or gospel singer, it makes little difference to the unceasing eye of the camera.”

Proud Camden is thrilled to host Nash’s candid and often striking collection. See Neil Young driving into a distant landscape, Joni Mitchell lost in rapture to a melody and the photographer himself in various experimental self-portraits. The ultimate visual experience for Graham Nash fans.

Images courtesy of Proud Galleries © Graham Nash

Graham Nash

Graham Nash has helped shape the world around him through ideas, innovations, and influential works of art for more than four decades. A legendary singer/songwriter, Nash is also an internationally renowned photographer and digital imaging pioneer. He rose to fame with British Invasion hit makers ‘The Hollies’ and went on to form ‘Crosby, Stills & Nash’ in 1968. Nash has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Nash is also widely known as an activist in support of causes related to social justice, peace, environmental stewardship and progressive politics. “I believe that knowledge is power, that information and ideas are vital to our very survival, that our many problems should be faced, and can be dealt with,” says Nash.

Graham Nash was born in Blackpool, 2nd February 1942, where his mother had been evacuated to during World War Two. His family returned to Salford and this is where Nash grew up and met band mate Allan Clarke with whom he formed ‘The Hollies’. Inspired by his father, an amateur photographer, Nash first started taking pictures when he was ten years old: “I had a camera before I had a guitar” he remembers.

Nash has exhibited his photography worldwide. His work is collected in the book Eye to Eye: Photographs by Graham Nash, and he curates others; work in Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash. In a third book (and CD collection), Off The Record, Nash’s Manuscript Originals presents handwritten images of the lyrics from 25 of the world’s best loved songs. In 1990, he established Nash Editions, now one of the world’s top photographic printmaking houses – and recognised by the Smithsonian Institution for its role in the invention of digital fine art printing.

Proud Galleries

Proud Galleries was launched in Autumn 1998. Its ethos? To bring the very best in high quality photography to the mainstream market. Proud instantly took the photography world by storm and quickly grew into Europe’s most popular private photography gallery.

Today the Proud brand runs one of the most visited destinations in London. Three galleries, two live music venues and three Cabaret clubs across central London have cemented its success and in a harsh economic climate, Proud continues to expand.

Never failing to exhibit the work of the world’s best photographers, Proud has hosted shows by everyone from Terry O’Neill to Jerry Schatzberg, Gered Mankowitz to Ken Russell. With star-studded launch parties and some of the best press coverage in the country, the unique Proud formula has situated the company at the very top of its game.