SEVEN QUESTIONS...

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Unlike my siblings who knew what they wanted to be, I never really did.
But I guess my answer to this question is that I still don’t want to grow up.

Which artist do you most admire?
That’s a tricky question, because there are so many that I admire. Photographers Edward Weston and Irving Penn are huge influences. Painters such as Vermeer, Caravaggio and Piero della Francesca for their incredible compositions and use of light.
But for sheer dogged pursuit of a personal vision, Giorgio Morandi is my hero.

When and why did you choose photography as a medium?
I went to Oxford university rather young, not knowing what subject I was most interested in. I ended up with a degree in Botany, but had by then experienced the magic of a darkroom making black and white prints. Leaving university with the mantra of “I never want to end up working for anybody else”, I soaked up several years of practical knowledge assisting numerous photographers before setting out on my own. Photography is still magical for me every day.

What challenges do you face in your artistic practice and how do you overcome them?
Having worked as a commercial photographer in the world of advertising, learning to let go of pleasing everyone else and seeking to please just me has been a learning curve. Following Picasso’s advice, I enjoy the process of play as I make pictures.

How do you know when a piece is right?
When you make work again and again and again, the processes become less thought about and more “felt”. So it’s a gut feeling when a composition and the way the light falls arrive at the right place.

How do you see your work in relation to contemporary art practice?
My work and life attempts to add a little beauty to the world around me. I’m not making big political statements or commentaries, but feel strongly that small good things can make their own ripples.

What is a day in the life of Tif Hunter?

My day will start with a walk with the dogs, whatever the weather. Not far, just around our field to notice changes in the hedgerow and river’s edge or to see the owl sitting in the field maple tree. Then breakfast which needs tea and toast with homemade marmalade. My day involves studio time and computer time and other domestic activities that I try to break up into chunks of no more than 3 hours. Better for both mind and body. From around 6pm it’s time to share the evening and a social world with my wife Leanne. Bedtime is variable of course but earlier the older I get!

Tif was featured on The Modern House recently. Click here to view the video which explores his home and studio life. 

Tif's Exhibition "Object Stories" opens at Robert Young Antiques on 17th October and runs until 1st November. The Artist's Preview is on 16th October, 6:00-8:00pm.