Biography
David Short was born in 1969 and grew up in a small village in South
Yorkshire about 12 miles from Sheffield City centre.
His interest in photography only happened at the age of 20, while attending
a general art and design course. Once the discovery had been made it
became obvious that this was the path to follow. The next few years
were spent studying photography in Sheffield and Newcastle where he
began experimenting with different styles of photography.
On graduating David spent a year in various jobs trying to make a start
at a photography business and working on a fine art project which was
exhibited as part of a group show at Sheffield's Site Gallery and a
solo exhibition at Manchester's Counter Image Gallery.
With the foundations in place David pursued the commercial side of photography
showing his portfolio to various advertising and design agencies and
picking up the odd commission along the way. As the work increased it
meant that he could earn a living from photography and has continued
to do so for the last 17 years shooting for many clients in his studio
and on location, picking up many awards along the way. He is currently
represented in London by Gill Turner for commissions specialising in
people for advertising and design clients.
He lives in Sheffield with his wife Jayne and 2 daughters Eve and Mia.
Statement
"South Yorkshire (Sheffield) is where I live and I can't imagine
living anywhere else. I was born here and have lived here most of my
life and will probably live here for the rest. On writing the last sentence
I have had to ask myself why? Why am I so attached? Even though I have
asked, the answers are not forthcoming. Yet I do know I want to carry
on living here. Having travelled to many parts of the world, some more
spectacular, some more beautiful, some more cosmopolitan and forward
thinking, I have no desire to live there and no desire raise my children
anywhere else other than where I am right now. This can make me sound
like a professional Yorkshire man wearing a flat cap (well occasionally)
and walking a whippet on a piece of string, chuntering on about being
Yorkshire born and bred...
This however is not the case, I live in the modern South Yorkshire not
the one of the past so popular with its critics. I am aware of South
Yorkshires imperfections, which in some ways are easier to identify
than its perfections, but all the same I keep coming back and want to
stay, for its people? Family? Its hills (it has lots)? Its trees (even
more)? All of those and that something special I can't really put my
finger on? I will settle for most of it being a mystery and in some
ways hope it remains so, but who knows this project may shed some light
on my home county."