River Spey Exhibition Heads to the Highlands
Exactly one year ago, a Highland photographer embarked on a 10-day open canoe expedition to launch a long-term, multi-stage project documenting the environment, culture and communities of his local river.
Next month, Ed Smith will unveil the next stage of this multi-part documentary project – a touring exhibition combining photography and video which will travel to communities along the banks of the River Spey from July to October.
Each venue will host the exhibition for up to three weeks, with Ed also delivering talks and workshops at each location. The exhibition will include a series of 25 limited-edition prints, featuring scenes that capture everything from wild river landscapes and contemporary rural life to industry and traditions that depend on the Spey. Visitors can also explore the complex balance between economic activity and ecological stability through imagery alongside portraits of those he met along the way.
The exhibition is accompanied by audio from the river, including sounds of nature and interviews revealing people’s personal connections to the river.
Setting off from Spey Dam last July, loaded with camera equipment, camping gear and supplies, Ed completed the project across four distinct journeys. Capturing the river through all seasons, the initial canoe expedition was followed by an autumn cycling route, a winter canoe descent, and a springtime cycle, to complete over 450 miles of self-propelled work.
The resulting photo-journalistic body of work, titled Uisge Spè: Where Water Shapes a Nation, explores the evolving landscape and identity of the River Spey region. It reflects an area undergoing significant environmental and economic change, examining how the river continues to shape local lives, livelihoods and cultural identity.
The exhibition, supported by the Cairngorm Trust, will launch at Ed’s Eleven41 Gallery in Kingussie on Friday 3 July. Visitors will also be able to view an installation of the canoe and expedition equipment used throughout the project.
The tour will then travel to Glenmore Visitor Centre and Café on Friday 24 July, followed by Boat of Garten Community Hall on Friday 14 August, and OPENSPACE/THE VAULT in Grantown-on-Spey on Friday 11 September. The final stop will be the Glenlivet Estate Office and Information Centre in Tomintoul on Friday 9 October, coinciding with celebrations marking 250 years since the town’s establishment.
Ed said, “The Spey is a living artery where culture, environment, industry, and history converge. Historically, the Spey has been a boundary and a battleground. It has witnessed Jacobite uprisings, clan conflicts, agricultural clearances, and industrial expansion. Archival traces — bridges, rail lines, abandoned crofts, and former ferry crossings — remain embedded in the landscape. By visually linking past and present, my project explores how history continues to inform land use, economic power, and cultural memory in the Highlands.
“On a personal level, it’s been an absolute privilege to undertake this journey along my local river, one I deeply respect, along with the people who live and work beside it. I met generations who have witnessed its changes over time, from floods to summer droughts that now threaten local industries, including fishing and distilleries. What’s clear is how deeply people are connected to the river.
“I set out to take a holistic view of the Spey and I’m looking forward to sharing the images and stories with the communities featured in the work. Those who live along its banks are its natural custodians, and I hope the exhibition gives them a platform to reflect and connect.”
Ed also hopes that the exhibition will appeal to the thousands of tourists converging on the Highlands over the summer.
He added, “Beyond its initial postcard beauty lies a complex and evolving story — where environmental pressures, economic dependency, heritage preservation and rural life intersect. For visitors, the focus is often on mountains and skiing, and the river can be overlooked, but it’s absolutely fundamental to this region. These are busy months for tourism, and I hope the exhibition encourages a more thoughtful, environmentally aware form of engagement. I want visitors to view the Spey not just as stunning scenery, but as a living system that influences everything from culture to industry to land management. Rivers are finite resources, and we need to recognise their importance and treat them with greater care.”
For more information, visit www.edsmithphotography.com
ENDS