British aristocrat Charles March, officially known as the Duke of Richmond, has opened a new exhibition of minimalist abstract photography at London's prestigious Hamiltons Gallery. The show, titled "Sandscript," opened on Tuesday, November 4, and will run through January 16, featuring works that March describes as recalling the fluid brushwork of traditional Chinese ink painting.
March, who wears multiple hats as a photographer, vintage automobile enthusiast, and arts patron, is perhaps best known as the founder of the renowned Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival events. Earlier this year, he established the nonprofit Goodwood Art Foundation in Sussex, further cementing his commitment to the arts community.
The duke's photography career spans an impressive five decades, beginning with an unusual start when he left school at age 16 to work as an apprentice to legendary film director Stanley Kubrick on the set of "Barry Lyndon" in 1975. Following this formative experience, March traveled to East Africa, where he worked as a documentary photographer and contributed photo stories to various magazines. By the 1980s, he had established himself as a successful still-life and advertising photographer under the professional name Charles Settrington.
Speaking about his artistic philosophy, March explained the conceptual foundation of his work to ARTnews: "Abstract photography is a paradox and that, for me, is compelling. The expectation of photography is that it represents a reality, abstract art is a disconnection of that. The use of photography in this context makes the visual impression of these new abstract images in Sandscript even more intense; increasing the interest and excitement, knowing that these lines and shapes have been drawn by nature—they are real but unrecognizable."
March elaborated on his creative process and its intended impact on viewers, stating: "Just as I have to seek-out the subject matter, deeply hidden amongst chaotic undergrowth or strewn randomly across an enormous beach, so I hope that the abstract nature of the pictures will inspire the viewer to search for more, to look harder for themselves and, in turn, deliver strong feelings about time and space."
The exhibition serves a charitable purpose, with March donating all proceeds to the King's Trust International's 10th anniversary campaign called "Generation Potential." This initiative, founded by King Charles III, aims to tackle the global youth unemployment crisis by providing young people with essential skills, confidence, and opportunities to learn, earn, and thrive in their communities.
March's photographic work has gained international recognition, with previous exhibitions at prestigious venues including the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Moscow Photography Biennale, Venus Over Manhattan in New York, and Galleria del Cembalo in Rome. This global exposure has established him as a serious artistic force beyond his aristocratic status.
Reflecting on his early experience with Kubrick, March credits the director with instilling crucial professional values that continue to guide his work today. "Without doubt, the single thing that stands out most for me was his attitude of only ever doing things in the best possible way and there never being any compromise," March told ARTnews. "It was amazing to be so young, working around people who were completely committed and totally focused on what they were doing, with only one thing in mind and that was to do it to the very highest possible standard and to the very best of their ability. Nothing was allowed to get in the way of that."
The Goodwood Art Foundation, which March established in Sussex, represents his broader vision for art's role in society. According to the duke, the foundation aims to improve "the mental and physical wellbeing and creativeness of people from all backgrounds through their engagement with contemporary art and connectedness to nature." He emphasized the foundation's mission: "We want to show contemporary art at the very highest level, making it available to people who are going to get the most out of it."
