Ex-prison officer’s Scottish photos in US show

STUNNING iconic images of the Highlands and Islands caught on camera by a former prison officer of Glasgow’s notorious Barlinnie jail – and now a leading photographer to the stars – are to be exhibited in the US for the first time.

• Leading photographer whose former jobs include bingo caller and prison officer lands US exhibit for photos of Highlands and Islands

• David Eustace has captured some of the most famous people in the world, including Sting, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Sean Connery

• Exhibition will form part of Scotland Week in New York

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David Eustace has become a world-renowned, award-winning photographer after stints as a street market fruit seller, a bingo caller, serving with the Royal Navy on a minesweeper – and prison officer.

He has photographed celebrities such as Sting, Sir Paul McCartney, Alan Rickman, Dame Judy Dench, Jack Black, Mickey Rourke, Sir Sean Connery, Ewan McGregor and Sophia Loren.

Now, his evocative landscape images showcasing his native land are to be exhibited at the Hudson Studios in Manhattan from April 5 as part of the Scotland Week celebrations in New York.

The free exhibition, called Highland Heart, is being staged by Edinburgh Napier University, where David honed his life-changing photography skills in the early 1990s.

Since then the Glaswegian’s acclaimed work has gone on to grace the pages of Vogue, Tatler and GQ, and he has starred in Panasonic’s Lumix adverts.

Eustace, 51, who now splits his time between New York and Glasgow, said: “It is an honour to be exhibiting photography of my home Scotland, in my second home of New York during Scotland Week.

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“I really am thankful to Edinburgh Napier for providing me with the opportunity to follow my passion and I look forward to offering the University my continuing support.”

The Highland Heart exhibition comes in the official Year of Natural Scotland, dedicated to Scotland’s Great Outdoors – from stunning landscapes and iconic wildlife to creative events and festivals.

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First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Scotland Week is an important platform that showcases Scotland as a modern, dynamic, creative nation.

“As well as our world-leading exports in technology, skills and food and drink, Scotland’s culture and people are arguably our best asset. David Eustace has established himself firmly as that.

“We take great pride in the Scots that represent our country all over the world and as a result I’m thrilled that David’s exhibition is part of Scotland Week 2013.

“His work is remarkable, from scenes of the Scottish Highlands and America’s Yosemite Park to striking celebrity portraits.

“It’s fantastic that people will get the chance to appreciate David’s exceptional skills for free and experience the dramatic Scottish Highland landscape through the eyes of one of the world’s best photographers.”

As part of the build up to the exhibition, Edinburgh Napier has launched a social media competition to find aspiring photographers across North America, with the winners to be judged by Eustace.

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Professor Dame Joan Stringer, principal and vice-chancellor of Napier, said: “We want to reach out to all those aspiring photographers across North America to not only build awareness around the courses we offer, but also to highlight the creativity coming out of Scotland.

“David himself has achieved a great deal in his career, and has been internationally acclaimed for his work, but has never lost sight of his roots. We are proud to count him as an alumnus of the University and very pleased to be able to help stage the Highland Heart exhibition.”

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Every year around 180 students from North America study at Edinburgh Napier. It has partnerships with prominent North American educational institutions such as the State University of New York, University of Houston and San Diego State University.

Scotland Week 2013 is built around the Tartan Day celebrations in the USA and Canada on April 6.

It is an annual week long programme of business, political and tourism engagements aimed at the promotion of Scotland as a great place to live, visit, do business, study and invest.

Highlights for 2013 include the 10th year anniversary of the 10k Scotland Run and Festival in New York’s Central Park and the Tartan Day parade down Sixth Avenue.

Scotland Week is one part of the Scottish Government’s engagement strategy with North America and Canada to further strengthen the important historical, cultural and economic links between the nations and ensure that Scotland maximises the economic opportunities that both markets have to offer for the future.