Louis Quail is a documentary photographer who increasingly devotes his time to personal, long-term projects. His most recent work ‘Big Brother’ (published with Dewi Lewis, 2018), has received significant critical acclaim. It ( and parts) have been shortlisted for the Arles Book and Text award 2018, Wellcome Trust photography prize 2019 and is winner of the Renaissance Series Prize 2017. His Arts Council funded, Solo show, ‘Before They Were Fallen’ also received significant exposure. It toured the UK and reflects an interest in aftermath that has taken him, previously to Libya, Afghanistan, Haiti and Kosovo. He has worked extensively for some of the UK’s best known magazines and has been published internationally over a period of many years. He has twice been a finalist at the National Portrait Gallery portraiture award and is held in their permanent collection. He lectures, exhibits internationally and makes short films.

For information on any of the photographs or for possible commissioning please contact Louis on any of the following:

Email: louisquail@gmail.com

Tel: +44(0)7958 542 437

@louisquail (twitter/instagram)

Louis Quail Photographer
Louis Quail (b.1967)

Awards/Nominations

2019
Shortlisted, ‘Big Brother’, Wellcome Photography Prize, Social Perspectives, London, UK [View]
2018
Shortlisted, ‘Big Brother’, Punctum Photography Prize, Lianzhou Foto Festival, China [Online]
Shortlisted, ‘Big Brother’, Les Prix du Livre (Photo-text Book Award), Les Recontres de la Photographie d’Arles [Review: BJP]
2017
Series Winner, ‘Big Brother’, Renaissance Photography Prize [Review: The Guardian]
The Metro Imaging Award, ‘Big Brother’ Portfolio Review, Format17
2016
Awarded Arts Council Funding for ‘Before They Were Fallen’
2013
Shortlisted, Series Category, ‘Desk Job’, Renaissance Photography Prize, London, UK
2007
Invited into the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
2001
Shortlisted, John Kobal Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
1999
Shortlisted, John Kobal Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK

Exhibitions

2022
‘Crazy’ Living with Mental Illness Group Show Ausstellungshalle 1A, Frankfurt am Main
2022
‘Crazy’ Living with Mental Illness Group Show Landschaftsverband -Köln
2020
‘Crazy’ Living with Mental Illness Group Show, F3, Kunstmuseum Dieselkraftwerk, Cottbus
2019
‘Big Brother’, Group Show, Wellcome Photography Prize, Social Perspectives, London, UK
‘Big Brother’, Forever/Now, Format Photography Festival, Derby UK
‘Big Brother’, Group Show, La fabrique de l’illusion, Sursock Museum, Beirut and Mucem Marseille
‘Big Brother’, Group Show, ‘Crazy’ Living with Mental Illness, F3, 100th Anniversary of the University Clinic, Tübingen and Congress of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Germany
‘Big Brother’, Group Show, ‘Crazy’ Living with Mental Illness, F3, Freiraum Für Fotografie f3, Berlin, Germany
‘Big Brother’, Group Show, Photo50 curated by Tim Clark, London Art Fair, UK
2018
‘Big Brother’, Solo Show, Lianzhou Photo Festival, China
‘Big Brother’, Book Launch Showcase, Theprintspace Gallery, London
‘Big Brother’, Circulations Festival, Paris, France [Review: Le Monde View]
2017
‘Big Brother’, Renaissance Photography Prize, Getty Gallery, London
‘Big Brother’, Format17 Photography Festival, Derby, UK
2016
‘Before They Were Fallen’ Solo Show, FOTOSPACE Gallery, Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland, UK
2015
‘Before They Were Fallen’ Solo Show, Four Corners Gallery, London, UK
‘Before They Were Fallen’ Solo Show, Oriel Colwyn Gallery, North Wales, UK
‘Desk Job’, Open 1, LOOK 15 International Photography Festival, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, UK
2013
‘Desk Job’, Renaissance Photography Prize, The Wapping Project, London, UK
‘Desk Job’, Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow, UK
‘Desk Job’, Format Photography Festival, Derby, UK
2012
Group show, Foto8 Summer Show, Host Gallery, London, UK

Selected Articles/Reviews

2022
Gerry Badger ‘Another Country, Documentary Photography Since 1945’ ( Thames and Hudson 2022).
2018

Zoo, A. ‘Big Brother’ (Review), 1000 Words Magazine, 12 September [View]

Davies, L. (Review), Photomonitor, 11 August [View]

Goto, Y. ‘Best Photobooks of the year (so far)’, BJP Online, 2 August [View]

El Pais selection of the Best Photobooks of 2018 [View]

Pantall, C. ‘Birds, Madness, Family and Love’, PHmuseum.com, 23 July [View]

‘Photo Books: Our Latest Favourites’, Shutter Hub, 23 July [View]

Colberg, J.M. ‘Big Brother’, Conscientious Photography Magazine, 16 July [View]

O’Hagan, S. ‘An ode to a schizophrenic sibling: Louis Quail’s moving portraits of his brother’, Observer News Review, 15 July [View]

Davies, L. ‘Big Brother’, Professional Photography Magazine (issue 22), 28 June

Guillot, C. ‘Portfolio: Garde-Fou’, Le Magazine du Monde, 17 March [View]

2017
Bourton, L. ‘The daily grind: Louis Quail’s photographs of fascinatingly mundane offices’, It’s Nice That, 20 April [View]
Smyth, D. ‘Photo London: Louis Quail’s Big Brother’, BJP Online, 11 May [View]Flynn, N. ‘The Photographer Documenting Life with Schizophrenia: Light and Shade’, Huck Magazine, 20 October [View]Quail, L. ‘Ten Questions with … Louis Quail’, Photovoice Blog, 3 October [View]Quail, L. Cover Article ‘Louis Quail, Big Brother’, SOURCE The Photographic Review (issue 90), Summer Edition
2016
Gibson, A. ‘Before They Were Fallen: The Impact of Loss’ (Interview with Louis Quail),
Forces TV, 20 January [View]
‘Before They Were Fallen’ Interview, Scottish ITV
‘Before They Were Fallen’ Interview, British Forces Broadcasting Service
2015
Coomes, P. ‘Before They Were Fallen’ Review, BBC News Online, 15 September [View]
‘Before They Were Fallen’ Review, ITV Scottish News
‘Before They Were Fallen’ Review, ITV Wales News
‘The tear-jerking exhibition of family photos – Before They Were Fallen’, ITV News Online
[View]
Kearney, A. ‘Desk Job at Open Eye: Photography that’s no job advert’, CreativeTourist.com,
21 July [View]
White, R. ‘Open 1 at Liverpool’s Open Eye Gallery’ (‘Desk Job’ Review), ArtinLiverpool.com, 20 July
‘Open 1 Interview with exhibiting Artist Louis Quail’ (‘Desk Job’), Open Eye Gallery, May [View]
2001
Cover Story, British Journal of Photography, 13 June [View]
Selected Editorial Commissions and Contributions From 1998 [Tearsheets]
Saturday and Sunday Times
Saturday and Sunday Telegraph magazines
Guardian Weekend
German and International Geo
Foto8
Observer Life
Aftenposten
Stern
Marie Claire, UK, and International Editions
Arena
Politiken
Dagbladet
The Face
FHM
Arena
Etc…

Selected Talks/Appearances

2019-23
Visiting Lecturer, Big Brother’ MBBS UCL, London UK
2019
‘Big Brother’ MBBS UCL second year students , London, UK
‘Big Brother’ Institute of Psychiatry, AoP/SIG conference, London, UK
‘Big Brother’ Ravenbourne University, London, UK
2018
‘Big Brother’ Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
‘Big Brother’ Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
‘Big Brother’ Falmouth University, UK
‘Big Brother’ University of South Wales, Cardiff, UK
‘Big Brother’ Croydon Photo Club, London, UK
‘Big Brother’ Photoforum Talk, Theprintspace Gallery, London, UK
‘Big Brother’ Beeroclock Talk, Photomeet, Space Studios, London, UK
‘Big Brother’ Book Launch, Theprintspace Gallery, London, UK
2017
‘Big Brother’ Talk with Max Houghton, London College of Communications, London, UK
‘Big Brother’ Talk with Dewi Lewis, Theprintspace Gallery, London, UK (October)
‘Big Brother’ Talk at Fragmentary, Kentish Town Health Centre, London, UK (16 October)
‘Big Brother’ Reading of the book, Photoblock Truman Brewery, London, UK (14 October)
2015

‘Building the Perfect Photographic Project’, Open 1, LOOK 15 International Photography Festival, Redeye Photography Network, Liverpool, UK
‘The Ethics of Portrait Photography’, Open 1 LOOK 15 International Photography Festival, Victoria Gallery and Museum, Liverpool, UK

2013
‘Desk Job’, Talk and panel discussion, Four Corners Forum, Four Corners Gallery, London, UK
‘Talking About a Revolution’ (Libya), Interview on Radio 24, Italy
‘Talking About a Revolution’ Interview, Digital Photographer
2012
‘Talking About a Revolution’ (Libya), Interview, BBC World Service, World Update
2010
‘Presentation of Haiti Stories’, Foto 8’s Host Gallery, London, UK
‘Photographic Coverage of the Haiti Earthquake’, OPEN-i Webinar

Lecturing and Teaching

2019-23
Visiting Lecturer, Big Brother’ MBBS UCL, London UK
2012-17
‘Annual Workshop: Photojournalism and Documentary Photography’, Tandem Education and Calumet
2008-16
Module Leader ‘Press, Photojournalism and Professional Practice’, Foundation Degree in Photography, London Metropolitan University
2013
‘Masterclass: Photographic Storytelling’, Guardian Masterclass
‘Masterclass: Photographic Storytelling’, Baku, Azerbaijan in collaboration with the British Embassy
Secondary Level Teaching, ages 11-18 (1994-95)
1994-95
Photography and Art teacher (FTE.4) SNS Point 3, The Saint Marylebone School, London
1994
One term full-time supply placement in the Art and Design Department Hayes School, Bromley
1993-94
Day-to-Day Supply Teacher, London

Education

1992-93
Brighton University P.G.C.E. (Art and Design)
1989-92
Brighton University B.A. Graphic Design, Upper Second Class Honours