We are delighted to share an exciting new exhibition now on display at DGRI by Dumfries & Galloway-based photographer Callum Malone. Bringing together a striking collection of street photography captured across the Dumfries area, Looking Out presents a series of images that observe everyday life as it unfolds, documenting people, passing moments and quiet corners that shape the character of the region.
From the energy of busy public gatherings to fleeting instances of stillness and solitude, the photographs form an intimate visual portrait of the town and its community. By focusing on ordinary moments rather than staged scenes, Callum’s work invites viewers to reflect on the subtle details of place, atmosphere and human connection that often go unnoticed.
“Having my photographs on display in the place where I work feels incredibly surreal. The exhibition is located near the X-ray department, an area I pass frequently during my shifts, so I often see people engaging with the images. I’ve overheard conversations about the work and occasionally people stop me to ask about particular photographs. It’s been fascinating to see which images people are drawn to and how they respond to them.”
Callum has deliberately chosen not to title the photographs in the exhibition. Rather than directing interpretation, he prefers to leave space for individual response, allowing each viewer to form their own connection with the image. For him, the meaning of a photograph is not fixed at the moment it is taken but continues to evolve through the eyes of those who encounter it.
After several years living on Scotland’s east coast, Callum returned to Dumfries & Galloway in 2022 with his family, taking up a role as a porter at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary. Rarely without a camera, his interest in photography developed into a more serious pursuit after reconnecting with an old school friend, Liam Gordon, whose street photography in the United States encouraged him to take his own work more intentionally.
Working with a second-hand Canon 200D (2017) and a Ricoh GR IIIx (2021), Callum is quick to emphasise that equipment is secondary to observation and persistence. For him, photography is a process of continual growth, each time he goes out with his camera, his aim is simple: to make a better photograph than the last.
Looking Out offers a thoughtful and quietly powerful look at Dumfries through the eyes of someone both familiar with the place and newly attentive to its details.
“I’m delighted that we have an exhibition by a member of staff on display for patients, staff, and visitors to enjoy. It’s lovely that Callum wants to share his art in this way, and brilliant that Outpost Arts have made it possible. It is also really encouraging for other staff who may want to explore the many wonderful creative opportunities we have across our region. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Callum on his first exhibition and being the first of our staff to have an exhibition through our Art in Healthcare programme.”
Looking Out is now on display at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary, for patients, staff and visitors to enjoy. You can find the exhibition in the corridor that runs from the end of the atrium along past the outpatient clinic bays, situated on the ground floor.
The exhibition is presented as part of the Art in Healthcare programme, a DG Creative Wellbeing project delivered by OutPost Arts in partnership with NHS Dumfries and Galloway. The Art in Healthcare Programme is funded through the NHS Charity. Since 2023, the programme has brought a wide range of creative activity into healthcare settings across the region, including participatory projects, exhibitions and events designed to improve wellbeing, enrich patient and visitor experience, and increase access to arts and culture.
Through collaborations with artists, community groups and cultural organisations, the Art in Healthcare programme creates opportunities for people to encounter art in everyday clinical environments, highlighting the positive role creativity can play in supporting health, connection and recovery.