About

A WORK IN PROGRESS

“Understanding the role creativity plays in my life has been the single most significant insight I have ever had. The realisation that I could play out my inner landscape on the outside and see it objectively changed my life. I have never been happier.” – Alister Benn

The snakes and arrows a child is heir to
Are enough to leave a thousand cuts
We build our defenses, a place of safety
And leave the darker places unexplored
– Neil Peart

Alister Benn is a Scottish artist, writer, musician and educator. For over 20 years he has been exploring the relationship between our personality, creative identity and the pressures of societal expectation. In 2021 Alister was made a Fellow of The Royal Photographic Society in recognition of his Out of Darkness series, which examines the perspective of mental health and personal development implicit in desert abstracts.

Alister divides his time between developing learning material for his company Expressive Photography, continuing his own creative and emotionally expressive output; be it writing, photography or music, and trail running in the mountains around home.

Alister lives on the far west of Scotland in a remote village with his Norwegian wife and Expressive Photography co-founder Ann Kristin Lindaas.

The Project

EVOLUTION

From the deepest depression to a life of balance, acceptance, joy and simple self-actualisation, Out of Darkness has been a life-changing journey. Over 5 years in the making, to call it ‘my life’s work” may sound over-stated, but I now know my path, my purpose and my passion. If I can change one life, in addition to my own, then I have saved a person from pain.
JAN 2017 – FIRST OF 7 TRIPS INTO THE GOBI DESERT
2017-18 – 2 YEARS OF DEEP MEDITATION
JAN 2019 – FOUNDED EXPRESSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
APR 2022 – MUSIC FROM DARK SPACES – PHASE ONE RELEASE
JUNE 2022 – OUT OF DARKNESS BOOK PRE-SALE
SEPT 2022 – OUT OF DARKNESS BOOK RELEASE

THE MEANING OF A LIFE.

The Out of Darkness project is an evolution of art, books, writing, self-development resources and music aimed to catalyse an individuals relationship with themselves. Each of us is a work in progress, with shared fears, anxieties and doubts. Imagining a better future.

Phase One

MUSIC FROM DARK SPACES

The images reflect my darkness of mood and perspective, but they are sprinkled with a truly inspiring sense of hope. The spark that keeps us moving forward.

Out of Darkness

FINE ART PHOTO BOOK

The Out of Darkness photo book is the centrepiece of the whole project; a combination of 133 photographs and a deeply personal and emotional text. Additional forwards by renowned photographers William Neill and Joe Cornish. The book will printed in Italy on the finest paper and self-published.  
The book is available in 3 editions: Standard, Deluxe and Collectors.