Short Bio

Gerard Miles McKinnell: Finding Art in the Ordinary

Born in Hayle, Cornwall, England, Gerard Miles McKinnell has spent much of his life following curiosity, adventure, and a passion for visual storytelling. Although photography captured his imagination from a young age, his path to becoming a fine art photographer was anything but conventional.

As a teenager, McKinnell always had an eye for a photo and left home to work as a photographer in holiday centres along the east coast of England. Reflecting on those early years, he laughs, "It wasn't a glamorous or difficult job. It was long hours, but it was terrific fun." Like many creative people, life eventually led him in different directions before photography once again became his primary focus.

A two-month journey through Indonesia sparked a love affair with Asia. Since then, he has travelled throughout Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, developing a deep connection with the region's landscapes, culture, and people. One of his most memorable adventures was a six-week solo motorbike journey from Ha Noi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), a trip that produced more than three thousand photographs. Tragically, those images were later lost when the tablet storing them was stolen. While the photographs disappeared, the experience itself remained etched in his memory and continues to influence his artistic vision.

Today, McKinnell lives in Cornwall and plans to continue his creative journey there. His work focuses primarily on beachscapes, seascapes and landscapes transforming everyday scenes into vibrant abstract compositions that blur the line between reality and imagination. Drawing inspiration from the coastlines of Southeast Asia, he creates what he affectionately calls "eye-candy art images."

"I intend to photograph beachscapes and seascapes in my unique style here in Cornwall," McKinnell says. "I just love spending time on beautiful beaches. I enjoy taking the mundane and turning it into something special. I hope my images give you a feeling of warmth and vibrancy and transport you to a happy or exotic place. This is my intention."

Whether printed on paper, canvas, or aluminium, McKinnell's photographs invite viewers to pause, explore, and see familiar landscapes through a different lens. His growing body of work reflects both a traveller's sense of wonder and an artist's determination to reveal beauty hidden in plain sight.